A detective from the Atlanta Police Department, previously honored as “Investigator of the Year,” tragically lost his life after allegedly breaking into a home in the early hours of the morning and being shot by the homeowner. An investigation has been launched into the behavior of the officer involved in this incident.
According to a report from USA Today, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Aubree Horton, the former detective, was shot and killed at a residence in the Winston community, approximately 30 miles from Atlanta, at 5:08 AM on the 4th of this month.
The report indicates that before the incident, the wife of the homeowner received multiple alerts from their Ring home security system while on her way to work. She noticed a stranger running around in their yard and shouting, prompting her to call 911. Unfortunately, the call came too late to prevent the tragedy.
At just 32 years old, Horton joined the Atlanta Police Department in 2015 and had recently transferred to the Fugitive Unit. He was awarded “Investigator of the Year” at the Atlanta Police Foundation’s annual meeting last month.
Surveillance footage released by the sheriff’s office shows Horton, shirtless, knocking on the front door of the home and running around the yard, yelling, “Oh my God, help me.” He then shouted towards the door, “I’m back,” and forcefully banged on the door twice, exclaiming, “No, just kill me.”
Initially, the homeowner attempted to communicate with Horton. Towards the end of the footage, Horton can be heard saying, “I love you, just kill me,” before lying on the ground. He then got back up and approached the door, and when the homeowner slightly opened it, Horton forcibly entered, knocking the homeowner down.
The sheriff’s office released a statement emphasizing, “The homeowner, fearing for his safety and in an effort to protect his property, fired one shot, fatally wounding Horton.”
Authorities have raised concerns about Horton’s mental state, suggesting he may have been under the influence of drugs or suffering from a psychological issue. However, they indicated that toxicology testing could take months to clarify the circumstances surrounding Horton’s erratic behavior.
Interestingly, Horton was a resident of the Winston area, living within walking distance of the incident site. The sheriff’s office stated that Horton did not know the homeowner prior to the event and that no charges would be brought against the homeowner.
