LAVONIA — A barricaded suspect was shot and killed Thursday night after opening fire on law enforcement officers, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The GBI said Alan Joseph Chandler, 30, of Lavonia, died following an exchange of gunfire with officers on April 9. No law enforcement officers were injured.
Began with a pipe
The incident began around 1 p.m. when the Lavonia Police Department attempted to serve felony arrest warrants on Chandler at a home on Roberts Street. Authorities said the warrants stemmed from an earlier incident in which Chandler allegedly struck a Lavonia city employee with a pipe.
According to the GBI, when officers approached the home, Chandler confronted them and was tased as he ran back inside. He then shut the door, and officers reported hearing a gun being loaded from within the residence.
Officers backed away and requested assistance from the Georgia State Patrol. Troopers, including the GSP SWAT team, responded and spent several hours attempting to negotiate Chandler’s surrender. Authorities also deployed tear gas into the home during the standoff.
“GSP responded to the scene and spent several hours attempting to negotiate with Chandler to surrender peacefully. GSP also shot tear gas through the windows of his residence,” the GBI said in a press release.
Ended in gunfire
According to the GBI, just after 8 p.m, Chandler “came out of his home while firing a rifle at the officers who were surrounding the home. GSP SWAT Team members and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office deputies returned fire, striking Chandler multiple times.”
Authorities said first responders administered medical aid, but Chandler was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was transported to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
Lavonia City Manager Robert Ogburn confirmed the city employee involved in the initial incident was not seriously injured and is expected to recover.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, and nearby areas were evacuated as a precaution. Road closures were also put in place during the incident.
The GBI is conducting an independent investigation into the incident. Once complete, the case will be turned over to the Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
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