Off-duty Atlanta officer shoots 2 men at his home
An off-duty Atlanta police officer shot two men Sunday as they tried to break into his personal vehicle parked at his south DeKalb County home, according to police.
DeKalb Public Safety Director Cedric Alexander told Channel 2 Action News that the men were stealing police equipment, including ammunition, when they were shot.
The officer heard something outside his home, grabbed his service weapon and went outside to investigate, police said.
When the officer saw the men, Alexander said the officer felt frightened and he fired. The two men were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Alexander said he believes the officer identified himself before shooting.
An initial investigation indicated that the men had taken gun belts and other items from the officer’s car, Alexander said.
Police said the officer won’t face criminal charges at this time because they believe the officer felt threatened and was protecting his family, Channel 2 reported.
About the Author
Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.
