Deputies exchange fire with armed, 'erratic' suspect outside Gwinnett County Jail: Sheriff

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office confirmed gunfire was exchanged between a suspect and an officer outside the Gwinnett County Jail located at 2900 University Parkway. Sheriff Keybo Taylor held a press conference Monday evening to explain the situation. 

Sheriff Taylor said the suspect had a previous encounter with law enforcement on Monday before the shooting. Witnesses said he was acting erratically.

Once confronted by deputies, Taylor said the man went to his car and retrieved a gun before opening fire.

The responding deputies returned fire, hitting him. The suspect, who has not been identified yet, was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

While the situation is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the jail will not be accepting any new intakes, and all approaching traffic will be redirected.

"We want to assure the community that the situation is under control, and there is no ongoing threat to the public’s safety," a spokesperson for the sheriff's office said via social media.

When asked why the suspect was at the facility in the first place, Sheriff Taylor said he did not have more information to share.

No deputies were injured during this exchange.

FULL PRESS CONFERENCE

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