Buford Man Threatens To Kill Mother, Spurs Manhunt, Police Say

BUFORD, GA -- A Buford man sparked a massive manhunt on Tuesday after threatening to kill his mother and police officers, authorities said.

At about 9:30 p.m. on Monday, Gwinnett County Police responded to a report of a domestic dispute in Buford.

They met with a woman who told them that her son, 24-year-old Dustin York, had been on drugs for several days and had threatened to kill her.

She said he had been acting aggressively and throwing things and that, when she tried to leave, he hit her in the back of the head and threatened her with a pair of scissors.

York also threatened to kill his mother's pets and told her that, if she called 911, he would kill any police officers who arrived, according to a news release from Gwinnett County Police.

The victim said she eventually convinced York to go take a nap and, once he was in his bedroom, she grabbed her purse and one of her dogs and ran out to meet with police officers.

But when officers got to the home, York had already left.

A responding officer secured two warrants for York -- for aggravated assault and false imprisonment.

On Tuesday, at about 10:30 a.m., the same woman called 911 to say she suspected her son may be in the woods behind her home. Officers arrived and saw York, police say, but they lost contact while chasing him.

At that time, Buford City Schools were placed on voluntary lockdown as a precaution.

That's when the manhunt began in earnest. Deputies and canine units from Gwinnett and Hall counties were joined by a Hall County air unit and the Georgia State Patrol in the hunt.

Several sightings of York were made during the day Tuesday, but officers were never able to catch him.

At one point, officers were told York was staying with a woman. The woman denied any involvement with York, but was arrested and taken to Gwinnett County Jail on an outstanding warrant.

After several hours, the hunt, in the area of Buford Highway and Thompson Mill Road, was called off. Police said in a news release that they are confident York will stay in the Buford area.

Anyone who spots York is encouraged to call 911, police say.