GBI: Man with saw blade charged at Brookhaven police before fatal shooting
A man carrying a saw blade and allegedly threatening customers at a popular Brookhaven shopping center charged at police before he was fatally shot Monday, state officials said.
Brookhaven officers responded to a call about an armed man at Town Brookhaven on Peachtree Road just after 5:30 p.m., the GBI said. The suspect, identified as 47-year-old Andrew Wesley Dix, was “walking around the shopping center yelling at customers,” according to the GBI.
Police found the Doraville man near the entrance to the shopping center at Town Boulevard, the state agency said. The officers tried to speak to Dix, but he became angry and threw his drink at them, the GBI said. One of the officers used his Taser against him, but it did not have the intended effect. The GBI said Dix then charged at police and a second officer shot him.
No officers were injured, and the man was taken to a hospital, the GBI said. He was pronounced dead shortly after he arrived.
At some point during the confrontation, Dix dropped a saw blade on the ground, according to the GBI.
The Town Boulevard entrance to the shopping center was closed for most of the evening.
The GBI will continue its independent investigation into the shooting. Once that is complete, the results will be turned over to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office for review.
This is the 58th shooting involving law enforcement the state agency has been asked to investigate this year.
About the Author
Henri Hollis is a restaurant critic and food reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he covers Atlanta’s restaurants, chefs and dining culture. As part of the AJC’s Food & Dining team, he reviews new restaurants, reports on industry trends and explores metro Atlanta’s culinary scene through the neighborhoods and people that shape it.
