GBI Investigates After Gwinnett Deputies Shoot New York Fugitive Near Elementary School

A fugitive wanted in a May murder in Troy, New York was shot and taken into custody in Gwinnett County on September 24 after a five-hour manhunt that sent two schools into lockdown and drew dozens of officers, drones, and a police dog to a residential neighborhood near Buford.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced on September 25 that it is investigating the officer-involved shooting, which involved Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office deputies and U.S. Marshals.

The suspect, Kean Wiggins, 35, is being treated for injuries and faces extradition to New York, according to the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office and Troy, New York police.

What Happened

According to the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Marshals and sheriff's deputies went to a home in the 1900 block of Binnies Way near Buford at approximately 6:15 a.m. on September 24. Wiggins fired at least one shot at officers and then slipped into the woods.

Around 11:30 a.m., officers found him near Freeman's Mill Elementary School. The sheriff's office says Wiggins fired again and was hit by return fire. No officers, deputies, or residents were reported hurt.

A woman at the Binnies Way home was taken into custody and charged with harboring a fugitive, police said.

Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor praised his deputies. "We're expected to run to the danger," Taylor said. "These deputies were actively being fired at, but they did their jobs."

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the officer and deputy shootings near Freeman's Mill Elementary School. Gwinnett County police are handling the investigation into the shot fired at a deputy near the home.

Schools on Lockdown

The manhunt's proximity to schools raised immediate concerns about student safety. Freeman's Mill Elementary School students remained inside the building hours after the shooting. Twin Rivers Middle School moved students to a church for pickup before the suspect was taken into custody.

"I think it's very ironic that it just happened to be right where I was working today, and I was able to rescue my son from the church," parent Jake Major told WSB-TV. "But I'm glad they got him."

Neighbors described a chaotic morning. "It's not safe," Kortne Ellis said officers told him. "They're looking for somebody as of right now and to go back in the house and lock the doors."

"This is a real shock because nothing happens over here," neighbor Frederica Roberson said. "It's so quiet."

A Fugitive From New York, Harbored in Gwinnett

Wiggins was wanted in connection with a May murder in Troy, New York, a city near Albany. The Rensselaer County District Attorney's Office in New York will oversee extradition proceedings.

The case underscores a pattern that has concerned Gwinnett County residents: fugitives from other states being harbored in the county. In August, Duluth police apprehended a Texas fugitive hiding in a city park. The ICE arrests that hit record highs in August 2026 further highlighted the intersection of local law enforcement and interstate crime.

The woman charged with harboring Wiggins faces a felony count. But the case raises broader questions: How did a New York murder suspect end up in a Gwinnett County home? Who knew he was there? And how many other fugitives are being harbored in the county?

Why This Matters in Duluth

The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office serves all of Gwinnett County, including Duluth. The deputies who confronted Wiggins are the same deputies who serve warrants, transport inmates, and provide courthouse security for Duluth residents.

The use of lethal force by sheriff's deputies is subject to GBI investigation — a standard protocol in Georgia. But the outcome of that investigation matters to every Gwinnett County resident. If the shooting is found to be justified, it reinforces public confidence in law enforcement. If it is not, it raises questions about training, escalation, and accountability.

The school lockdowns also raise questions about emergency response protocols. Freeman's Mill Elementary and Twin Rivers Middle School are in the Dacula area, but Gwinnett County Public Schools operates schools across the county, including in Duluth. The protocols used during this manhunt — moving middle schoolers to a church, keeping elementary students inside — could be applied at any Gwinnett school facing a similar threat.

Duluth residents who followed the arrest and court process after local arrests know that what happens after a suspect is taken into custody matters as much as the arrest itself. The GBI investigation will determine whether the deputies' use of force was lawful and appropriate.

What Happens Next

The GBI investigation is ongoing. The Rensselaer County District Attorney's Office will handle extradition once Wiggins is medically cleared.

The woman charged with harboring a fugitive will face prosecution in Gwinnett County Superior Court.

The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office has not announced any changes to its fugitive apprehension protocols in response to the incident. But the case — coming weeks after three Gwinnett County police officers were fired and charged for misusing the Flock license plate reader system — adds to a growing list of law enforcement controversies that Gwinnett County residents are following closely.

At the state level, the Georgia General Assembly may revisit license plate reader regulations and law enforcement oversight in the next legislative session. For now, the GBI investigation is the primary mechanism for accountability.

Sources & Documents

• Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, press release, September 24, 2026
• Georgia Bureau of Investigation, press release, September 25, 2026
• WSB-TV, "Manhunt for New York murder suspect ends in gunfire," September 24, 2026
• Fox 5 Atlanta, "3 Gwinnett schools lockdown amid nearby police activity," September 24, 2026
• Troy, New York Police Department, September 24, 2026

More Gwinnett County Coverage

For more reporting from across Gwinnett County — Lawrenceville, Duluth, Norcross, Snellville, Suwanee, and every community in the county — visit our Gwinnett County news hub, or browse all local news from WorthFighting.org.