Deputies kill man who chased them with knife, then find his mom dead, police say
Authorities have not determined how the woman died. Her decomposing body was found in a Cherokee County home.
A man was killed by deputies at a home on Whisperwood Trail in Cherokee County, where his mother was found dead inside Saturday night, the sheriff's office said. (Courtesy of WSB-TV)
A friend sent Cherokee County deputies to check on a woman she wasn’t able to reach, but when they arrived, the woman was already dead, investigators said.
Before deputies left the Acworth-area home, her son was also dead, killed by deputies he chased with a knife, according to the GBI.
Deputies arrived at the Whisperwood Trail home for the wellness check around 6:45 p.m. Saturday, according to Capt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee sheriff’s office. The residence is near the intersection of Bells Ferry and Alabama roads.
A friend sent Cherokee County deputies to check on a woman she wasn’t able to reach, but when they arrived, the woman was already dead, investigators said.
Before deputies left the Acworth-area home, her son was also dead, killed by deputies he chased with a knife, according to the GBI.
Deputies arrived at the Whisperwood Trail home for the wellness check around 6:45 p.m. Saturday, according to Capt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee sheriff’s office. The residence is near the intersection of Bells Ferry and Alabama roads.
A trauma response vehicle sits Wednesday outside a home on Whisperwood Trail, where Cherokee County deputies fatally shot a man whose mother was found dead inside, authorities said. Oct. 29, 2025.
Andre Alvear, 26, opened the front door and briefly spoke with deputies, but then shut the door, investigators said Tuesday. When he opened the door again, Alvear lunged at one of the deputies with a knife, hitting the deputy in the face.
“Alvear chased the deputy with the knife as the deputy retreated,” the GBI said in a news release. “Both deputies then shot Alvear, killing him.”
Andre Alvear, 26, opened the front door and briefly spoke with deputies, but then shut the door, investigators said Tuesday. When he opened the door again, Alvear lunged at one of the deputies with a knife, hitting the deputy in the face.
“Alvear chased the deputy with the knife as the deputy retreated,” the GBI said in a news release. “Both deputies then shot Alvear, killing him.”
Baker said one of the deputies was injured and taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he was treated and released.
After the gunfire, the sheriff’s office said deputies smelled “an odor of decay” and found the body of an adult woman upstairs in the home.
Baker said one of the deputies was injured and taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he was treated and released.
After the gunfire, the sheriff’s office said deputies smelled “an odor of decay” and found the body of an adult woman upstairs in the home.
“Due to the advanced stage of decomposition, it is unknown how the female died,” Baker said in a statement.
Detectives believe and evidence suggests the woman is Alvear’s mother, Luisa Penetra, 61, of Acworth, Baker said Tuesday. He noted the GBI is still working to “forensically identify” her. Property records show sheowned the home.
Detectives believe and evidence suggests the woman is Alvear’s mother, Luisa Penetra, 61, of Acworth, Baker said Tuesday. He noted the GBI is still working to “forensically identify” her. Property records show sheowned the home.
The GBI is conducting autopsies on both Alvear and the woman, the agency said.
The GBI was asked to investigate the shooting, while the sheriff’s office will look into the death of the woman, Baker said.
The GBI was asked to investigate the shooting, while the sheriff’s office will look into the death of the woman, Baker said.
