Man killed in shootout with police in Gwinnett County; GBI investigating

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been called to investigate a police shooting involving the Snellville police department and the Gwinnett County police department that left one person dead.

The shooting happened on Temple Johnson Road near Pate Road in Snellville.

Authorities said it started off as a traffic stop around 4 a.m. and then turned into a chase.

“The driver of the vehicle took off at full-speed and refused to stop,” Snellville police said. “Officers attempted at PIT maneuver on the vehicle, took the vehicle off the roadway.”

The vehicle crashed into the tree line on Temple Johnson Road. Once the vehicle came to a stop, officers approached the car and gave the driver commands but he refused to comply.

“The subject produced a handgun and began firing at the officers. There was an exchange of gunfire,” Snellville police said.

Snellville police called in a SWAT team from Gwinnett County to assist.

“At one point he lifted up his firearm and pointed it at our officers,” Cpl. Michele Pihera with Gwinnett County Police Department said. “One of our officers assigned to the SWAT team fired one round.”

Pihera said right now, they don’t know if that round hit the suspect, but he was later found dead in the car.

Police said agents with the GBI are on the scene going through the evidence.

The driver has not been identified.

This is the 45th officer-involved shooting that the GBI has been requested to investigate in 2020.

We have a reporter and photographer on the way to the scene -- Stay with Channel 2 Action News for updates on this developing story.

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