Buford, GA – On Thursday January 25, 2018, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was requested by the Gwinnett County Police Department (GCPD) to investigate an officer involved shooting in Buford.  

At approximately 3:41 a.m., the 911 Center received a call from an unidentified male caller stating that a man was walking along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard toward State Route 20 (Nelson Brodgon Boulevard) with a firearm.

Officers arrived within minutes and found the subject in front of a laundromat located at 1330 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.  The subject was later identified as Steven Hutchins, 27.  Officers reported that Hutchins had a firearm in his waistband.  The officers tried talking to Hutchins for approximately five minutes in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.  During their contact with Hutchins, he pulled the gun out of his waistband and began to raise it at the officers.   GCPD Officer Walter Pollock shot Hutchins in response.  One of the responding officers was a SWAT medic and began to render medical aid, but Hutchins died at the scene.  

The handgun was later found to be an airsoft replica pistol (see attached photo).

The 911 call was tracked to a landline telephone in Hutchins’ residence located on Gold Creek Trail in Buford.  Investigators have been unable to determine the identity of the caller.  Hutchins’ house is approximately 100 yards from the shooting incident location.  A suicide note was found in Hutchins’ bedroom.

The GBI will continue its independent investigation.  Once completed, the case will be turned over to the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office for review.

Brian Whidby – Assistant Special Agent in Charge |Conyers | [email protected]

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