Suspect, 15, Charged With Shooting At Cops During SWAT Standoff

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — The Sandy Springs Police Department has filed charges against the burglary suspect who threatened to take his own life along Roswell Road, forcing the major thoroughfare to shut down for hours Thursday afternoon while officers worked to get him to surrender.

The suspect, a 15-year-old juvenile, was shot following the standoff with the North Metro SWAT Team, was taken into custody after the exchange of gunfire. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment, and is expected to recover from his injuries, said Sandy Springs police spokesperson Sgt. Sam Worsham.

Police have charged the male with six counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, minor in possession of a handgun, obstruction, possession of drug-related objects, possession of alcohol under 21 years of age and discharging a firearm on the property of another. Worsham notes that since the suspect is a juvenile, his identity will not be released.

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The events unfolded when police were dispatched to a burglary call around 1:23 p.m. May 31 at Modera Sandy Springs apartments at 6125 Roswell Road. Police arrived at the scene to find three suspects. Two were detained, but one fled the scene on foot.

During the chase, the male was seen with a handgun and at one point, discharged that weapon, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said. Police chased that suspect, who was "cornered" between two buildings in the 6060 block of Roswell Road while negotiators worked toward a "peaceful resolution," Worsham told Patch.

Sandy Springs police called in the North Fulton SWAT Team, which tried to negotiate with the male. After speaking with him for more than an hour, officers tried to arrest the suspect.

"The subject attempted to flee with the handgun and sustained multiple gunshot wounds by officers," the GBI said. He sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will investigate the officer-involved shooting. Once it's done, it will turn the case file over to the Fulton County District Attorney's Office for review.

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