Officers say man fatally shot woman, then turned gun on himself

Athens-Clarke County police are investigating a deadly domestic call that led to an officer-involved shooting.

Athens-Clarke County police are investigating a deadly domestic call that led to an officer-involved shooting.

A woman is dead and a man was shot in what officials are investigating as an officer-involved shooting at an Athens home Monday afternoon.

Officers were initially called to the Summerbrook Circle home about 4 p.m. regarding a domestic disturbance, Athens-Clarke County police spokesman Epifanio Rodriguez told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Quintavia Wade, 28. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

icon to expand image

Police arrived on the scene and witnessed Nicholas Head, 27, fatally shoot  28-year-old Quintavia Wade, police chief Scott Freeman said at a news conference Monday night.

One of the officers immediately “opened fire on (Head) in an attempt to stop the threat,” Freeman said. The officer was identified as Edward Herron, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Herron fired at least three rounds from his gun, Freeman said, before hiding behind his car.

After ignoring verbal commands to put the weapon down, Head shot himself, Freeman said. He was taken to a hospital with a face injury and is in the intensive care unit.

Police were called to a separate location involving Head and another woman about 11:30 a.m., Freeman said. But by the time officers arrived, he had left the scene.

Nicholas Head. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

icon to expand image

It is not clear what led to the argument in either case. Wade was not in a relationship with Head, Freeman said.

Herron was described as a five-year veteran of the police department. Freeman said he will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Officials said no officers were injured during the shooting.

The GBI is investigating, which is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.

In other news: