‘Kill me, help me’: Off-duty cop’s last words caught on camera before fatal shooting

An off-duty police officer was shot dead while trying to break into a neighbor’s home. The event took place on the morning of October 4, 2024, in Douglas County, Georgia. At approximately 5:08 a.m., Aubree Horton, 32, was captured on a doorbell camera running half-naked and barefoot into her neighbor’s residence, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

He is heard shouting “kill me” and “help me” as he tries to break down the door in the recorded footage. He then sits on the stairs of the house with his hands on his face, panting.

The footage was shared by the Daily Mail on Instagram. Take a look:

The owner’s wife, who had left for work just minutes earlier, received several notifications from her Ring doorbell camera, alerting her to call the police.

Inside the house, the husband woke up to noise coming from outside. The homeowner initially attempted to talk to Horton through the door of the residence. But Horton opened the door just enough to force entry and subsequently attack the homeowner.

In an attempt to protect himself, the owner shot Horton to death with a firearm.

Police later confirmed that Horton was dead at the scene.

Speaking to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the sheriff’s office said the two people did not know each other and there had been no prior incidents of domestic violence regarding Horton. The incident raised significant concerns regarding the mental health and safety of the community.

The results of the toxicology report are awaited and could take a few months.

According to the AJC, Horton has been with the Atlanta Police Department since November 2015 and was recently honored as “Investigator of the Year” in high-profile investigations. Horton gained recognition in the case of missing 21-year-old Leondre Flynt, whose body was found in July.

Residents who live in St. Andrews Country Club continue to be in shock over the incident, a strange occurrence in the quiet neighborhood, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

“I’ve lived here for five years and I can promise that this is not what you see here,” one resident told the channel.

Authorities are collaborating with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office to review all details of the event.