Accused Gunman Shot To Death In Roswell SWAT Standoff Identified

ROSWELL, GA — The man who died early Wednesday after police say he shot at officers during a nearly two-hour standoff at a Crossville Road gas station was identified as Raheem Freeman, 28, of Atlanta.

Roswell Police said officers responded Tuesday to the gas station shortly before midnight on a suspicious person call.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Freeman's behavior had been erratic, and he was asked to leave the gas station by employees after being there for several hours.

When police arrived, Freeman was accused of pulling out a handgun and refusing to comply with commands. Freeman was then accused of barricading himself in front of the store with the handgun, and store employees were evacuated.

Police said the North Fulton SWAT team - which is comprised of officers from Roswell, Alpharetta and Milton - then responded to the scene.

In a span of nearly two hours Wednesday, police said negotiators tried to get Freeman to surrender, but he refused to do so.

The SWAT team then deployed several less-lethal options to arrest Freeman, but they were unsuccessful. The SWAT team then tried to approach Freeman, but police said he shot at the officers.

Police said the SWAT team shot back, hitting Freeman. Officers then rendered aid, and he was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. No officers were injured in the shooting.

This is the 69th shooting involving an officer the GBI has been asked to investigate this year. Once complete, the case file will be given to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for review.