Cop awarded ‘investigator of the year’ fatally shot while breaking into neighbor’s home

Aubree Horton, 39, an off-duty Atlanta police officer and nine-year veteran of the force, was fatally shot Friday morning after attempting to break into his neighbor’s home in Winston, Georgia.

Horton, who had recently been named “Investigator of the Year,” is accused of breaking into the residence through the front door at approximately 5 a.m., where he was confronted by the homeowner.

The homeowner, acting in self-defense, shot Horton, authorities said.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the call, and authorities believe Horton may have been experiencing “a mental health crisis or was under the influence of drugs” at the time of the incident.

Footage released Monday shows Horton in sheer panic, possibly experiencing “a mental health episode,” moments before he was fatally shot while trying to break into a neighbor’s home.

Horton is seen running shirtless through a street in Winston, Ga., shouting, according to video released by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Horton, who lived in the area, can be heard screaming “Jesus save us” and “Help me” before he reaches a neighbor’s front door in the St. Andrews Country Club neighborhood, where the shooting occurred.

Neighbors expressed shock at the event, describing the area as a peaceful community. One resident, Milton Johnston, remarked, “I’ve lived here for five years, and I can promise you, this ain’t what you see out here.”

Horton joined the Atlanta Police Department in November 2015 and most recently worked in the department’s Fugitive Unit. He was honored as “Investigator of the Year” at the department’s Crime is Toast awards breakfast on September 24.

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The award stemmed from his work on a complex case involving the disappearance and murder of 21-year-old Leondre Flynt, whose remains were discovered in July. Horton had helped bring closure to Flynt’s family by securing the arrests of three individuals connected to the case.

Horton’s contributions to the case were highlighted in a video shown at the awards ceremony, where he expressed pride in bringing justice to families.