GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A fight between roommates ended with a man being shot by a police officer. The incident happened Friday morning along Templeton Drive in Loganville.
Police said the suspect threatened them with multiple guns, forcing SWAT officers to shoot and kill Leonard Hollingsworth, 63.
Investigators said it started at around 1:30 a.m.
“Two SWAT officers fired at the suspect, and he was determined to be deceased at the scene,” said Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle with the Gwinnett County Police Department.
Investigators said Hollingsworth’s roommate escaped when police showed up, but police say the Hollingsworth ran back in the home while an elderly woman was also inside.
“We heard them telling the guy, ‘Get out of the house. You’re under arrest.’ And that the SWAT team is there, and they’re not going to leave,” a witness who wished to remain anonymous said.
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Channel 2′s Matt Johnson said it is still unclear what the relationship was between everyone involved, but officers and SWAT negotiators were worried about what Hollingsworth might do to a woman inside the home.
“We don’t know if he intentionally tried to take her hostage or not, but the SWAT officers were concerned about her safety, being as if she was in the residence when he was presenting and threatening them with firearms,” Winderweedle said.
Five hours of negotiating ended when authorities say Hollingsworth pointed a handgun at SWAT officers in the backyard.
They shot and killed Hollingsworth in a normally quiet neighborhood that’s still trying to make sense of what happened.
“Nothing happens here at all. This is the first time something crazy has ever happened here,” neighbor Nia Lindo said.
The woman who was inside with Hollingsworth was taken to a hospital to be checked out and is expected to be OK.
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