An off-duty Atlanta police investigator was shot and killed early Friday morning in Douglas County after allegedly breaking into a home according to authorities. The incident occurred around 5 a.m. on Orkney Way, near the St. Andrews Golf Club, where deputies responded to reports of a possible burglary.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said the man involved, later identified as 32-year-old Aubree Horton, appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis or was possibly under the influence of drugs when he attempted to force entry into the residence. Horton managed to gain access to the home before being confronted by the homeowner, who shot him in self-defense. Horton died at the scene.
Horton, a ten-year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department, was recently recognized as “Investigator of the Year” at the Crime is Toast ceremony hosted by the Atlanta Police Foundation. He had been assigned to the department’s fugitive unit and was praised for his work on a high-profile case involving the disappearance and death of a Gwinnett County man last year.
Horton lived in a nearby neighborhood on Rannoch Moor Drive, within walking distance from the scene of the shooting. Authorities have not provided further details regarding why Horton attempted to enter the home.
In a statement, the Atlanta Police Department expressed their condolences and confirmed they are cooperating with the ongoing investigation led by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
The circumstances surrounding Friday’s fatal incident remain under investigation.
