Video of the shooting at Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office headquarters

Officer-involved shooting at Gwinnett County Jail

The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office has released bodycam and surveillance video of a shooting that occurred outside the jail on October 7, 2024. Emmanuel Patrick Bearden, 44, of Peachtree Corners, was charged with injuries and later charged.

ATLANTA – The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office released video of an encounter at the agency’s headquarters that resulted in a shootout between a man and deputies outside on Oct. 7. The video, edited by the sheriff’s office, was released Monday and shows a bizarre altercation between the man and officers, followed by an escalation of events outside.

The suspect, identified as Emmanuel Patrick Beardenarrived at the main office around 3pm with his young daughter. Deputies reported Bearden was visibly agitated and exhibiting unusual behavior. They noticed Bearden wearing body armor as he walked through the building’s X-ray station, prompting close surveillance.

Officer: “Are you armed now?”

Bearden: “Want to find out?”

As he lifted his daughter into his arms to leave, Bearden appears to challenge the officers, asking, “Feeling a little funny, buddy?”

When Bearden returned to his vehicle, he placed his daughter in the backseat before removing weapons from the vehicle, according to authorities.

In the video, he can be seen pulling the cover off a gun and holding it in the air before raising his hands.

At that point, officers moved everyone inside the building to a secure area. A deputy is seen retrieving a ballistic shield and returning outside, where more deputies had arrived, one pulling a rifle from the back of his SUV.

A team pulled into Bearden and gave verbal commands, fully aware of the child in the car.

The video pauses as Bearden allegedly began shooting at deputies, but the audio continues with gunshots and deputies giving commands.

Deputies returned fire, striking Bearden.

Medical assistance was provided at the scene and he was transported to hospital for treatment.

The child was unharmed and later released to relatives, as confirmed by officials.

In the aftermath, Sheriff Keybo Taylor and command staff representatives consulted with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office about releasing the body camera footage. The edited video footage, with added highlights and blurred areas to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, was released publicly.

The incident remains under investigation by the GBI.