Teen killed by police sniper identified
An autopsy will be conducted Wednesday on a Cherokee County teenager who authorities said was shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy after threatening to shoot his mother.
Cherokee County Deputy Coroner Thomas Pinyan identified the 16-year-old boy as Andrew Messina.
The teen was a sophomore at Etowah High School, according to Cherokee schools spokeswoman Barbara Jacoby.
Jacoby said additional counselors were on the Etowah campus Wednesday to assist students.
Messina's mother called 911 shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday to report the teen was threatening to shoot her with a .357 Magnum revolver, Lt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies arrived at the Laurel Crest Drive home, in the Eagle Watch subdivision and safely removed the woman from the home, Baker said. But the teenager barricaded himself inside and hostage and SWAT teams were called to the residence.
"Negotiators, who had worked their way very close to the front door, witnessed the suspect pouring alcohol on the curtains inside the home and heard him threaten to burn the home," Baker said in a press release.
After an hour of negotiations, the suspect either shot through the glass on the front door or used the gun to break the glass, Baker said.
"A sniper, who was in a position across the street, fired one round from his rifle in an attempt to protect the negotiators who were within a few feet of the front door," Baker said.
Messina was shot in the abdomen and transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, where he was pronounced dead, Baker said.
The GBI is assisting with the investigation into the shooting, Baker said. The deputy involved, whose name was not released, has been placed on routine administrative leave.
