Chief: Officer Kills Man Accused Of Killing Georgia Officer
Gwinnett Police Officer Antwan Toney was killed over the weekend after being shot while responding to a suspicious vehicle parked near a middle school in the Snellville area. “The people that worked with Officer Toney on a daily basis recalled a very jovial person who was dedicated to his job and dedicated to his community,” Gwinnett County Police Chief Butch Ayers said.
Gwinnett County Police Department via AP
A police officer on Monday shot and killed an 18-year-old man accused of fatally shooting another officer near a school in the Atlanta area over the weekend, police said.
Tafahree Maynard was one of two men charged in the fatal shooting Saturday of Gwinnett County police Officer Antwan Toney. Police believe Maynard shot Toney, and had launched an area manhunt as he faced charges of aggravated assault and felony murder.
The number of Georgia officer-involved shootings is on pace to break last year’s record. In 2017, there were 88 officer-involved shootings, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. And so far this year, there have been at least 76.
Gwinnett County Police say Toney is the fifth officer to die while on the job in the history of the department.
Toney, who has immediate family in Southern California, has been with the department since 2015.
Toney died at a hospital over the weekend from his wounds, police said. The 30-year-old was serving in his first police job.
Police got a credible tip about Maynard’s whereabouts around 3 a.m. Monday, Gwinnett County police Chief Butch Ayers told reporters. Dozens of police officers went door-to-door in a search for him, knocking on doors and interviewing people.
Two officers searching a shed behind a house encountered Maynard, who failed to comply with verbal commands, Ayers said. Maynard initially had his hand behind his back and when he showed his hand, he was holding an “edged weapon” in his hand, the chief said.
One officer fired a stun gun at Maynard and the other fatally shot him from about 5 or 6 feet away, Ayers said.
“I would like to say that the danger to the community is over,” Ayers said at a news conference, adding that police would continue to investigate any potential charges against people who may have provided assistance to Maynard “during his attempt to escape justice.”
“The people that worked with Officer Toney on a daily basis recalled a very jovial person who was dedicated to his job and dedicated to his community,” Ayers said.
The Gwinnett County Police Department said in a news release that visitation will be held Tuesday and a funeral Wednesday for Toney.
The visitation hours are 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Crowell Brothers Funeral Home in Peachtree Corners. The funeral is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville.
A second suspect, 19-year-old Isaiah Pretlow, was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a gun at an officer during the pursuit after Toney’s fatal shooting, police had said earlier.
According to police, Pretlow drove the vehicle away after the shooting, crashed a short distance away and fled along with other occupants. An officer searching the area later encountered Pretlow around 3 p.m. Pretlow pointed a gun at the officer, who fired shots, according to police. Pretlow was not hit and fled into some woods. He was subsequently taken into custody around 11:30 p.m. Saturday by U.S. Marshals.
Note: This story was updated at 1:45 p.m. Monday.
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