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Man shot and killed during SWAT response in Gwinnett County, police say

Police said the suspect pointed his firearm several times at the officers and made numerous threats against the police.

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A man was shot and killed during an hours-long SWAT situation in Gwinnett County, police said Friday morning.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified the man killed as 63-year-old Leonard Hollingsworth. 

According to the Gwinnett County Police Department, authorities received a domestic call concerning roommates near Templeton Ln. and Templeton Dr. in Loganville around 1:20 in the morning.

Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle of Gwinnett Police said the caller informed officers he was being prevented from leaving and that the suspect had discharged a gun.

"When officers arrived, they located the victim in the driveway being prevented from leaving and the suspect was outside with a firearm," Winderweedle said. "Once officers arrived the victim was able to leave the incident and the suspect retreated into the residence with a firearm."

Police said there was also an elderly woman inside the home with the suspect. SWAT was called to the scene and negotiators tried for about five hours to get Hollingsworth to come outside. 

During the SWAT response, police said the suspect pointed his firearm several times at the officers and made numerous threats against the police, claiming that he would shoot them.

“Around 7:15 in the morning the suspect stepped out to the backyard with a firearm in his hand and pointed at the SWAT officers in the backyard. Two SWAT officers fired at the suspect and he was determined to be deceased at the scene," Winderweedle said.

During the standoff, people living nearby were told they could not leave their homes as a precaution. 

Michael Hervey, whose home faces the back of the house, where the standoff took place said he woke up around 2:30 a.m. to police shouting. 

"Around 2:30... I heard a bang. My wife said she heard a couple more after that," Hervey said. "I looked out my window, I seen the light. So I knew I wasn't going to go outside because I knew all the officers out there. So I knew it was something going on."

Cpl. Winderweedle said it's unclear at this time if the roommates were kin to each other. 

The GBI is overseeing the investigation into the police shooting. They said the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy. The case will be given to the district attorney's office for review following the GBI independent investigation.

This is the 69th police shooting the GBI has been called to investigate this year, agents said. 

This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.

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