Police Rescue Baby After Armed Standoff With Grandmother

PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA -- A 4-week-old baby was safe Wednesday after an early-morning armed standoff in which the child's grandmother had taken him hostage.

Laurie Morgan, 57, of Peachtree Corners, has been charged with aggravated assault and reckless conduct in the case, Gwinnett County Police said.

Shortly before 3 a.m., police were called to a domestic dispute at Highland Corners Apartments in Peachtree Corners.

When they arrived, they learned that an argument had taken place between members of the family that lived there. After a man involved in the argument left the apartment, Morgan picked up his son while holding a firearm, police say.

The woman walked outside while holding the baby and fired a round from her firearm. No one was injured, but the police department's SWAT team was then activated, shortly before 4 a.m.

Negotiations with Morgan began, said police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera. The suspect cut off contact shortly after 4 a.m., but negotiators used a PA system to continue to try to talk to her.

At about 8 a.m., members of the SWAT team breached the door of the apartment and positioned themselves between the baby and Morgan. Officers quickly took the suspect into custody while others secured the child, Pihera said.

The baby boy was checked by a waiting ambulance and then returned to his mother.

Morgan, who police say may have been intoxicated during the incident, was booked Wednesday morning into Gwinnett County Jail.

(Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department)