Shocking footage released Monday shows off-duty Atlanta police officer Aubree Horton in sheer panic, possibly experiencing “a mental health episode,” moments before he was fatally shot while allegedly trying to break into a neighbor’s home.
Horton is seen running shirtless through a street in Winston, Ga., shouting at around 5:08 a.m. on Oct. 4., video released by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office shows.
The 39-year-old cop, who lived in the area, can be heard screaming “Jesus save us” and “Help me” before he reaches a neighbor’s front door in the St. Andrews Country Club neighborhood.
The off-duty officer is then seen on Ring doorbell footage running full speed up to his neighbor’s front door, still shouting for help, and appears to try to open it by the handle, but is unable to get inside.
Horton then slams into the door shoulder first.
The homeowner appears to shout something at Horton from inside the house, to which he shouts, “No, kill me,” before again throwing himself into the door.
Appearing exhausted, he sits on the front porch steps, puts his hands over his face, and breathes deeply.
“Who are you?!” the neighbor can be heard shouting from inside the home before calling for his wife.
After a brief moment of silence, Horton then randomly shouts, “I love you,” before letting out a chilling scream and lying down on the porch.
The home’s front porch lights turn on, and the owner can be heard screaming his wife’s name again.
Horton then jumps to his feet and approaches the door before the video ends.
Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds said in a statement Monday that Horton then forcibly rushed into the home when the door was cracked open and knocked the homeowner to the ground.
“Fearing for his life and in defense of his home, the homeowner discharged a single round from his firearm, fatally wounding Horton inside his home,” Pounds said.
Pounds said the homeowner was in bed when he woke to the screaming outside.
His wife had left for work moments before Horton arrived at the residence.
The homeowner cracked the door open while armed after multiple attempts of trying to communicate with the off-duty officer and being concerned for his wife’s safety.
During the incident, the homeowner’s wife received multiple notifications from her Ring doorbell camera and, after noticing what was going on, called 911.
The sheriff’s office said it released redacted video footage from the frightening incident to provide transparency to the public about what happened. Portions containing sensitive content, such as the sound of the deadly shot that killed Horton, were not included.
“We want to emphasize that this was a tragic situation where the homeowner acted in defense of his life and home,” Pounds said.
“At this time, we are confident that no charges will be filed against the homeowner.”
The sheriff’s office said the two didn’t know each other, and there was no domestic disturbance involving Horton before the incident.
Pounds also shared that the department wanted to address numerous false rumors circulating online that the home belonged to Captain Jon Mauney, the head of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division.
“These rumors are categorically false,” Pounds wrote in his statement.
“Additionally, there is no truth to the claim that Officer Horton was involved in a domestic disturbance, or that any family member of his sought refuge at the home. Horton was completely unknown to the homeowner.”
The sheriff’s office is working with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office to provide a full report on the incident.
A toxicology report is pending but “could take several months to complete.”
“We believe Horton may have been experiencing a mental health episode or under the influence of narcotics at the time of the incident,” Pounds added.
Horton joined the Atlanta Police in November 2015 and was most recently assigned to the APD’s Fugitive Unit.
The department announced on Facebook that he was named “Investigator of the Year” at the ADP Crime is Toast Awards breakfast on Sept. 24.
Horton received the honor stemming from a case involving the missing 21-year-old man Leondre Flynt, whose remains were discovered in July.
