Update: 10/22/2018 – 4:15 p.m. Gwinnett County Police Department gave a final update to the events that led to the shooting death of Tafahree Maynard following an intensive manhunt after Gwinnett County Police Officer Antwan Toney was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018.
“GCPD received credible information last night that indicated Tafahree Maynard was still in the area. A large police presence was moved into the area as a result. The SWAT Team was called upon to clear multiple locations due to the potential threat posed by Maynard,” GCPD public information officer, Sgt. Jake Smith, said in a press release. “At around 10:45 a.m, units went to check 2552 Mistletoe Lane, which was the residence of a known associate. Maynard was located in the shed behind the residence at about 10:58 a.m. Maynard would not surrender and did not comply with verbal commands to show his hands. One officer deployed a Taser which did not successfully incapacitate Maynard. Maynard then produced a lawnmower blade and made an aggressive move toward officers. One Gwinnett County Police officer fired shots, striking and killing Maynard.”
Smith said no officers were injured in this encounter and the incident is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation so any further details on this shooting will be handled by the GBI. Once the investigation is complete, the GBI will hand it over to the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office. All the occupants of the suspect vehicle have been identified, but GCPD detectives are still interested in hearing from witnesses. Anyone with information can call 770-513-5710 or 404-577-TIPS. Only Pretlow and Maynard have been charged and Smith said information concerning the other occupants of the vehicle will be given out at this time.
Police Chief Butch Ayers said, “We are relieved that the manhunt is over and the threat to the community resolved. It is unfortunate that Maynard did not surrender or turn himself in peacefully, but his actions forced the officer’s response. With the manhunt over, we can now focus on remembering and honoring Ofc. Antwan Toney.”
The memorial in tribute to Officer Toney will remain in front of GCPD Headquarters until the conclusion of his funeral.
Update: 10/22/2018: Gwinnett County Police confirm that Tafahree Maynard, 18, died Monday when he was shot by police. He was located in a Gwinnett County subdivision (off Hewatt Road in Lilburn) and, according to Gwinnett Police Chief “Butcher” Ayers, he was armed with a weapon. When he refused to bring his hands forward, he was shot and died as a result. Full details to follow.
Update: 10/22/2018: We are awaiting a news conference by the Gwinnett County Police on the status regarding the manhunt for accused Gwinnett County cop killer, Tafahree Maynard, 18. WSBTV is reporting that Maynard is dead, but details have not yet been released. Will update as soon as available.
Update: 10/22/2018: Tafahree Maynard, 18, wanted in connection with the killing of Gwinnett Police Officer Antwan Toney,30, is still on the run. GCPD detectives are asking for tips regarding his whereabouts as the manhunt continues. If anyone has any information to share in this case, they are asked to call the tip line at 770-513-5710. To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive up to $5,000 for information leading to Maynard’s arrest and indictment in this case.
In the meantime, a memorial is in place in front of GCPD Headquarters for those that wish to pay their respects in person to the fallen officer. GCPD said information on funeral services and donations will be released when finalized.
Update, 10/21/2018, 01:00 a.m: Gwinnett County Police Department detectives have charged two suspects in the shooting death on Oct. 20, 2018, of Gwinnett County Police Officer Antwan Toney, 30 – one is in custody and the other is still on the run.
“The first is Isaiah Pretlow (B/M, 19 years old) of Snellville, who has been charged with aggravated assault. Pretlow was taken into custody at about 11:30 p.m. on 10/20/2018,” GCPD public information officer Sgt. Jake Smith said in a press release. “The second is Tafahree Maynard (B/M, 18 years old) of Snellville, who has been charged with aggravated assault and felony murder.”
Smith said Maynard is not in custody and should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone encountering him should call 911 and anyone with information on his location should call 770-513-5710.
Detectives believe that it was Maynard who fired the shots that ultimately killed the police officer. Maynard and Pretlow were both in the vehicle during the initial shooting. Pretlow then drove the vehicle from the scene and crashed a short distance away, according to Smith.
“Pretlow and other occupants fled the crashed vehicle on foot. A short time later (about 3:00pm) another GCPD officer encountered Pretlow while conducting a search of the area. Pretlow pointed a gun at the officer and the officer fired shots at Pretlow,” Smith said. “The aggravated assault charge against Pretlow is based on this encounter. Pretlow was not hit and fled into a wooded area. He was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals around 11:30 p.m. on 10/20/18. Smith said at least on GCPD officer fired his weapon at the suspects in the initial encounter, but because all the suspects are not in custody police are not sure if anyone was hit.
Smith said details of Pretlow’s arrest will be made available in the morning.
This is the 5th Line-of-Duty Death for the Gwinnett County Police Department. In April 1964, Officers Jerry Everett, Ralph Davis, and Jesse Gravitt were shot and killed during an investigation of suspicious activity in Duluth and in May 1993, Officer Chris Magill was killed in a traffic accident on Interstate 85.
Smith said this was the first police job for the fallen officer. Toney, who is originally from southern California, previously worked as a security guard. His immediate family still lives in California.
“We’ve received an outpouring of support from our community both near and far. We have been following their heartfelt messages on our Twitter page and other social media sites that have featured stories about this event,” Smith said.
Update: Gwinnett County Police Department release details following the shooting death of Officer Antwan Toney, killed in the Line of Duty on Oct. 20, 2018.
(Snellville, Georgia) Gwinnett County Police Department officers were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle call at Crumps Landing Road and White Road, which is near Shiloh Middle School, at 2:32 p.m this afternoon (October 20, 2018). Ofc. Antwan Toney responded to the scene with other officers. The officers located the suspicious vehicle. As they approached, shots were fired from inside the suspect vehicle. One of those shots struck Ofc. Toney. Other responding officers returned fire and pulled Ofc. Toney to cover. The suspect vehicle fled the scene; it is unknown if anyone in the vehicle was struck by return fire. Ofc. Toney was transported by ambulance to Gwinnett Medical Center, Lawrenceville. He died at the hospital as a result of his injuries.
Responding officers located the suspect vehicle crashed a short distance away at the intersection of Ross Road and Calumet Farm Lane. As many as four suspects fled on foot from the crash location. There are currently several scenes where officers, SWAT personnel, and K9 units are checking buildings and wooded areas. A witness to the crash described one of the suspects as a black male, about 6’00” tall, long dreadlocks, wearing green sweatpants and a grey t-shirt. There are no other descriptions available at this time. Anyone with information should call Gwinnett Police at 770-513-5100.
Ofc. Antwan Toney #1808 was working his shift on patrol in the Uniform Division at the time of this call. He has been with the department since October 26, 2015. Ofc. Toney’s next of kin have been notified of his death.
Update: Gwinnett County public information officer Jake Smith has confirmed that the officer shot on Saturday afternoon did not survive his injuries. He has been identified as Antwan Toney, a two-year veteran of the department. Toney graduated with the 94th Academy of Gwinnett County Police Department in May 2016. The suspect or suspects are still on the run.
Breaking: A Gwinnett County police officer was shot in the Snellville area of Unincorporated Gwinnett County on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. He has been transferred to the hospital in critical condition – suspect or suspects on the loose!
Details to follow.
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