News Details
Homicide - Springs Lane, Peachtree Corners
(Peachtree Corners, Georgia) The Gwinnett County Police Department Homicide Unit is investigating an overnight shooting that occurred in the city of Peachtree Corners. At around midnight between Sunday, March 4, and Monday, March 5, officers assigned to the West Precinct were dispatched to a “person shot” call at 3700 Springs Lane Apartment 37F.
When officers arrived, they met with a woman who stated that her husband had been shot. The officers entered the room where the victim, Dwayne Pete (age 30), was at. Another male, Jerry Bennett (age 18, Spartanburg, SC), was also present.
One of the responding officers applied a chest seal to the victim’s injury. The Gwinnett County Fire Department arrived shortly thereafter and transported the victim to a local hospital.
According to the initial interview with the wife and Jerry, it was learned that the Dwayne and his wife were having marital problems, and the wife was in the process of moving to South Carolina. Jerry was there to assist with the move. While in the apartment gathering some of her belongings, Dwayne and his wife began to have a verbal altercation. At one point, Dwayne pushed his wife with his hands. Jerry entered the room and shot Dwayne in the torso. Both the wife and Jerry began to apply pressure to Dwayne’s injuries while waiting for first responders.
At around 6:30am, Dwayne Pete died as a result of his injuries. (His next-of-kin has been notified.)
Jerry Bennett was placed under arrest and charged with Felony Murder and Aggravated Assault. He was transported to the Gwinnett County Jail.
According to OCGA 16-3-21, “a person is justified in using force which is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm only if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury to himself or herself or a third person or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.” In this case, the lead detective believes that the threshold to justify deadly force was not met.
Possessing a firearm comes with a lot of responsibility. We encourage all those who carry such a powerful weapon to learn not only how to use it properly but also the laws which allow someone to use deadly force.