ROSWELL, Ga. — Local authorities are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting at a gas station in Roswell early Wednesday morning.
Roswell police responded to a report of a suspicious man acting erratically and refusing to leave a RaceTrac gas station on Crossville Road.
When officers arrived, they spotted the man barricaded behind columns outside the front of the store and holding a gun.
Police said the man, later identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as Raheem Freeman, then barricaded himself in the front of the store with his gun.
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Store employees were then evacuated as a multi-hour SWAT standoff began.
Police told Channel 2 Action News that negotiators spoke with Freeman in an attempt to get him to surrender, but he would not speak with them or get rid of his gun.
SWAT officers and negotiators were called in and spent two hours trying to persuade the man to drop the weapon and surrender.
Police say they attempted non-lethal means to subdue the suspect and that Freeman fired his gun at police. Several SWAT officers returned fire, hitting him. He was taken to a hospital where he later died.
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North Fulton SWAT, which is comprised of Roswell, Alpharetta, and Milton officers were all on the scene assisting.
In response to a request for comment by Channel 2′s Tom Regan, RaceTrac said “We are grateful for the Roswell Police Department and neighboring agencies who collaborated quickly to ensure the safety of our guests and associates.”
Regan spoke with several RaceTrac customers about the incident.
“I live in this area and come to this RaceTrac all the time for gas and snacks. This is crazy,” Anthony Sutkus, a customer said.
Another customer said the shooting was upsetting.
“I think it’s really unusual, especially in an area like this too.” Cindy Nguyen said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate the shooting, as is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings.
Year-to-date, this is the 69th officer-involved shooting GBI has been called to investigate this year, according to officials.
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