In the early hours of September 17, a standoff with police ended in the arrest of a Smyrna man, Eric Wilson, after he allegedly fired a shotgun at multiple people before barricading himself in his apartment.
The Details: The incident began around 3:48 a.m. when officers from Cobb County Precinct Three responded to a call at 1940 Atlanta Road about an armed suspect. Police say Wilson, 42, had fired his shotgun toward people he had been with. By the time officers arrived, they found a woman in the parking lot who had been inside the apartment with Wilson before the incident escalated.
Wilson initially opened the door but retreated back inside and refused to comply with police commands, leading officers to obtain both an arrest warrant and a search warrant for the residence.
Standoff and Arrest:
SWAT officers attempted to serve the warrant peacefully, but Wilson continued to refuse commands. As the standoff stretched on, authorities began to suspect that Wilson had fled into the attic of an adjacent, unoccupied apartment.
Using a drone, SWAT officers tracked Wilson as he moved between the neighboring attic and his own apartment. The visual confirmation of his location allowed officers to monitor his movements closely, and eventually, they were able to take Wilson into custody without further conflict.
The Charges:
Wilson faces three counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and obstruction in connection with the incident.
The case is being handled under case number 24063495.
