4-year-old killed in Gwinnett fire

By Christian Boone

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gwinnett County firefighters have located the body of a 4-year-old boy trapped during a late morning fire at a Norcross apartment complex.

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John Spink, AJC Adults at the fire scene are distraught after the failure to reach a child believed to be missing in the apartment fire.

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John Spink, AJC Fireifighters wait for the search to be completed Tuesday at the Highland Walk Apartments in Norcross.

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After searching for hours, rescue crews found the boy's body in a closet off the master bedroom just before 4 p.m., said Gwinnett Fire spokesman Tommy Rutledge.

"It appears that he may have tried to seek shelter in the closet to block the flames and smoke," he said.

There were other family members home at the time of the fire but they were unable to reach the boy.

"Valiant efforts were made by police and family to reach the child, but conditions worsened and they had to get out," Rutledge said.

The fire was reported at 10:29 a.m. at the Highland Walk Apartments on 6069 South Norcross-Tucker Road. Four units were destroyed and the blaze caused a roof collapse that's made recovery efforts difficult.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Rutledge said.

Staff photographer John Spink contributed to this report