Gwinnett women killed in police-involved shooting

By MARCUS K. GARNER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Duluth woman who was threatening suicide and her elderly mother were shot and killed Tuesday night by Gwinnett County police, authorities said.

Shortly before 9 p.m., a Gwinnett County police officer responded to call about a suicide attempt in the 3000 block of Tracey Drive, police said.

“A mother called about her daughter,” police spokeswoman Cpl. Illana Spellman said. “The daughter made threats that she wanted police to kill her.”

While the officer and mother were talking, the daughter came downstairs holding a gun that she pointed at the officer, Spellman said.

Feeling threatened, the officer fired, Spellman said.

Both women were hit, police said.

The mother, identified Wednesday as 74-year-old Barbara Baker, died at the scene.

Baker’s 51-year-old daughter, Penny Schwartz, was taken to a nearby hospital, where she later died, according to police.

“We don’t know if the mother stepped into the officer’s line of fire,” Spellman said.

Crime scene and shoot team investigators were working to determine what happened, she said.

The name of the officer, a 10-year veteran of the police department, has not been released. The officer was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, Spellman said.

Staff writer Mike Morris contributed to this article.