SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — A 78-year-old man was identified Wednesday as the individual who died during a South Fulton Police response to a sexual assault call the night before.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the victim, who called 911 to report the sexual assault, said Fred Perkins had shot at her and hit her with his gun. Police and the GBI said that as officers approached a Perkins on scene, he was "armed with a shotgun and shot at officers."
The GBI said that officers returned fire at Perkins as he retreated into a shed.
"We had our SWAT units come out. After we got a heat signature on that particular shed, it was determined that Mr. Perkins was not moving around inside of the shed," South Fulton Police Chief Keith Meadows said. "We made entry at that point to offer any medical assistance to Mr. Perkins that we possibly could. At that point, units were able to determine that Mr. Perkins had actually died as a result of the exchange of gunshots."
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The situation unfolded in the 4400 block of Roosevelt Highway in South Fulton around 7 p.m. on Tuesday at a property that Meadows described as a salvage yard of some sorts.
The victim was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation. No officers were hurt in the incident, the police department said.
Meadows said their department will conduct an internal investigation to make sure their policies were followed and the GBI will look into the shooting.
"Once complete, the case file will be given to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for review," a GBI statement said.
Meadows said this an isolated incident.
"At this point we have no information to suggest that she was a random target," Meadows said. "We're going to continue to work with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to facilitate this investigation and whatever we can do to help further that along we certainly will."
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