BROOKHAVEN, GA — On the night of August 15, 2024, a home invasion on Caldwell Road escalated into a dangerous confrontation between armed intruders and a neighbor, ultimately leading to an officer-involved shooting. The incident began around 11:00 p.m. when the homeowner noticed four armed men inside her house via security footage. Acting quickly, she contacted a friend who lived nearby, asking him to respond to the scene.

The friend, arriving at the home, chose to confront the armed intruders directly. A shootout ensued between the suspects and the neighbor. As the situation unfolded, the suspects fled the scene in a Lexus. Responding officers from the Brookhaven Police Department spotted the vehicle as it attempted to leave the neighborhood and initiated a pursuit. The chase ended in the neighboring city of Chamblee, where the suspects’ vehicle crashed into a utility pole.

Following the crash, the four suspects fled on foot. One of the suspects, 19-year-old Albert Eugene Burns of Snellville, GA, was armed and attempted to evade capture. During the pursuit, a Brookhaven officer fired at Burns, wounding him. Despite being hit, Burns continued to flee, dropping one gun before attempting to retrieve another. The officer shot Burns again, after which he was apprehended and transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The police, assisted by officers from Dunwoody and Chamblee, set up a perimeter and deployed K-9 units to track down the remaining suspects. Two more suspects, Davion Harper, 22, and Tyson Kamari Kirksey, 18, both from Conyers, GA, were arrested without further incident. The fourth suspect remains at large, and authorities are actively seeking information on his whereabouts.

The Brookhaven Police Department continues to investigate the home invasion and the aggravated assault that followed. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is conducting an independent review of the officer’s use of force during the pursuit. The findings will be presented to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office for further review.

While the neighbor’s quick response to help the homeowner in this situation might seem commendable, it raises significant concerns about the risks involved in confronting armed intruders. The decision to face multiple suspects, possibly armed, in a scenario where there was no immediate danger to life but rather to property, could have had tragic consequences. Even though the neighbor may have been aware of the number of intruders through security footage, there was no way to guarantee that he would not be outgunned or ambushed.

In such situations, it is crucial to prioritize personal safety over property. If you are not in immediate danger, it is generally wiser to contact law enforcement and allow trained officers to handle the situation. Entering into a confrontation where the odds are against you—four to one in this case—significantly increases the risk of injury or death. When faced with intruders, especially armed ones, it’s essential to consider the potential consequences of any actions taken and to weigh them against the value of what’s at stake. Property can be replaced; lives cannot.