Gwinnett County DA investigator shot: Multi-agency manhunt underway
DACULA, Ga. - A multi-agency manhunt is underway after an investigator for the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office was shot along Auburn Road near Dacula on Friday evening.
Gwinnett County Police Sgt. Michele Pihera says officers across metro Atlanta are searching for a silver SUV with rear passenger-side damage.
It happened just after 6 p.m. near the intersection of Auburn and Old Fountain roads. Sgt. Pihera says the investigator was headed toward Dacula Road along Auburn Road when he was shot. The investigator radioed in about being shot after pulling into a nearby gas station.
It was not immediately clear if the investigator returned fire.
The investigator, who has not been identified, was rushed to an area hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg. He is expected to survive.
Dozens of officers flooded the area after the shooting. Gwinnett County Police launched its aviation unit and brought in K-9 units to sweep the immediate area.
It is not clear what led to the shooting.
"So, for this particular case, we want to know what the motive is for the shooter. That’s pretty important here," said Sgt. Pihera. "We are going to treat it like any other shooting."
Police say the DA investigators ride in unmarked SUVs, so there were no overt signs he was law enforcement.
"It doesn’t appear right now that the investigator was attached to any police-related investigation. He was simply driving down the road when he was shot at by the shooter," said Sgt. Pihera.
Still, whether this was a targeted shooting, a road rage situation, or some other encounter remains under investigation. Police were questioning the investigator at the hospital as officers went to area businesses to see if any surveillance video of the incident or the vehicle were caught on camera.
It was also not clear if the shooter was alone in the car.
The Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office uses investigators to follow up on any leads once the police department hands cases over for prosecution. Investigators are sworn law enforcement officers.
The DA had choice words for the shooter.
"We need families to stay intact and whoever did this, at this point, we will bring you to justice," said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson
She said it is shocking and it is not anything anyone, anywhere should go through.
"Please put the guns down," the DA said.
The DA says her office is fully cooperating with police on the investigation.
Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Gwinnett County Police Department.