Machete-Wielding Teen Shot by Police

A 15-year-old teen is dead after a domestic dispute took a tragic turn Monday afternoon.

Gwinnett County Police were dispatched to a Buford home at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Dec. 19 in response to an aggravated domestic dispute. According to police, a 911 caller indicated a family was locked inside a room at 3310 Windward Gate Lane attempting to shield themselves from a 15-year-old male relative who was threatening to kill the family with a machete.

When officers arrived at the scene, they were immediately confronted by the 15-year-old teen, police said.

“Investigators learned from witnesses that the 15-year-old exited the house and charged the officers ‘in a full dead sprint’ with the machete in hand,” said Gwinnett County Police public information officer Cpl. Ed Ritter in a released statement. “The officers immediately gave commands to drop the machete. The 15-year-old refused to comply with the commands and the officers were forced to shoot him as they were presented with this deadly threat.”

The 15-year-old was transported to the hospital where he later died of his injuries. The identity of the teen has not yet been released.

The investigation is ongoing.