Man Stabs Wife, Children, Sets House on Fire: Police

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA -- A Stone Mountain man stabbed three family members and tried to set fire to his own house before being detained early Wednesday, police said.

Officers were dispatched to a house fire at at 5298 Santee Street, in unincorporated Stone Mountain, shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

While en route, they were informed that a man inside the home, later identified as 44-year-old Jamie Bernal Gomez, had intentionally set the fire and stabbed his wife and two teen children.

According to Gwinnett County Police, Gomez jumped out of a window before officers arrived and "was seen physically attacking a car" parked outside a neighboring home.

He was found a few houses away, laying in a neighbor's yard with a knife nearby and cuts on his wrists, police said.

After refusing to comply with police officers he was Tasered, according to a news release. He was then taken into custody without further incident.

Police said they learned that Gomez was under the influence of alcohol and possibly an unknown illegal drug. He had been arguing with his family during the evening and, at one point, threw several items into a bathtub and set them on fire.

When his 32-year-old wife tried to put the fire out, Gomez stabbed her numerous times, police said.

And when two of their children, a 16-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl, tried to help their mother, Gomez reportedly stabbed them as well.

Two other children, ages 10 and 8, and the wife's mother, were in the home as well but were not injured.

The mother and 16-year-old son were transported to Gwinnett Medical Center and the 15-year-old girl was taken to Egleston Children's Hospital. All were expected to survive their wounds.

Gomez was taken to Gwinnett County Jail, where he is charged with arson, three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of cruelty to children, obstruction of a law enforcement officer and criminal trespass.