A man has died after allegedly opening fire on police during a standoff at a home in South Fulton, Georgia, while his wife was wounded in the leg.
South Fulton police identified the man as 55-year-old Derrick Bates. Officers had been called to a reported family dispute at a property in the 3300 block of Flat Shoals Road at about 7.34pm on Tuesday, 1 September.
Police said Bates came outside as officers arrived and began shooting at them with what authorities described as a high-powered rifle. The officers returned fire before taking cover behind their patrol vehicles.
He then went back inside the house and continued firing through a window, according to investigators. A SWAT team was called in and moved the officers to safety after they were pinned down by gunfire.
Standoff ends with man found dead
South Fulton’s interim public safety director, Cedric Alexander, said the officers were “immediately” met with gunfire and remained under fire until SWAT teams arrived.
No officers were injured. Bates’ wife was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital after suffering a gunshot wound to her leg, although authorities have not said who fired the shot. Another person inside the home escaped unharmed.
SWAT officers spent several hours trying to persuade Bates to surrender before entering the property early on Wednesday. Police said they found him dead inside, with his weapon nearby.
Investigators have not determined whether Bates was killed by police gunfire or died by suicide. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation into the shooting.
Around one mile of Flat Shoals Road near Buffington Road and Interstate 85 was closed during the police operation. Drivers were urged to avoid the area and not to pass through police barricades.
