Police: Officer Killed Home Invader Armed With Tire Iron

Police have released the identity of a home invasion suspect who was shot and killed by an officer Monday morning in unincorporated Norcross.

According to Gwinnett County Police spokesman Cpl. Edwin Ritter, the suspect was 24-year-old Eric Andrews, of Atlanta. He died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

When police responded to an armed robbery call at Woodland Ridge Apartments off Tree Trail Parkway arodun 7:35 a.m., they found Andrews exiting through the back door while holding a tire iron.

The officer told him multiple times to stop and drop the weapon, but Andrews refused and began to advance toward the officer. The officer backed up around the side of the apartment to avoid being hit, but Andrews only continued to move toward him.

"There was ample amount of warning given to Mr. Andrews and plenty of room to escape, but he continued his advancement toward the officer who was armed and wearing a full police uniform," said Ritter.

When Andrews raised the tire iron at the officer, the officer shot him once.

"The officer had no other alternative but to respond to the deadly force from Mr. Andrews with deadly force," continued Ritter.

Andrews immediately dropped the tire iron and ran in the opposite direction of the officer. The officer chased him on foot until Andrews collapsed a short distance away. He was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center where he died.

The Gwinnett County Police Deadly Force Team, comprised of investigators from the Homicide Unit, Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office and Crime Scene Unit is conducting a thorough investigation regarding this incident, according to Ritter. This team has already interviewed several witnesses and gathered evidence consistent with what has been learned so far.

Police say the incident started when Andrews knocked on the front door to a home in building three of the apartment complex. Two pre-teens were home alone and waiting for someone to pick them up from school. The children looked through the peephole and refused to answer the door since they didn't recognize the suspect, according to police.

The man went to the back of the apartment and forced entry. The children escaped through the front door and went to the neighbor’s house so that they could call police.

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