Gwinnett man gets 40 years for shooting at cops during SWAT standoff

On June 6, 2014, John Christopher Digiulio holed up inside his Sugar Hill home and fired multiple shots at the Gwinnett County police officers swarming outside.

Last week, he was sentenced to serve 40 years in prison for his trouble.

The Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday that Digiulio had been found guilty on three counts aggravated assault upon a peace officer. Once the 43-year-old is released from prison, he will serve 20 more years on probation.

According to prosecutors, police officers responded to Digiulio’s Gold Mine Drive home on the afternoon in question after getting reports of shots fired. As officers were walking down a hallway inside the home, Digiulio fired a shot through his bedroom door.

Police retreated and called the SWAT team in.

“During the standoff, the defendant called 911 stating that they needed to send in the SWAT team because he had seventeen more rounds of ammunition for police when they arrived,” the district attorney’s office said in an emailed statement.

A short time later, SWAT team members heard a muffled gun shot and saw Digiulio’s hand — and a firearm — peeking through a set of closed window blinds.