SWAT officer injured; man killed in Roswell shootout during warrant service
ROSWELL, Ga. - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is investigating a shooting involving an officer in Roswell that left one man dead, and a SWAT officer injured.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of Jan. 17 when Roswell Police detectives and North Fulton SWAT attempted to serve search and arrest warrants at a home on Ansley Drive.
Roswell man killed as SWAT attempt to serve arrest warrant
What we know:
Matthew Robert Taylor, 40, of Roswell, was being served a warrant stemming from an incident on Dec. 31, 2024. Taylor was accused of firing a handgun into the air after being asked to leave a New Year’s party just down the road from his home. Authorities obtained warrants on charges of reckless conduct, discharge of firearms on the property of another, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Roswell Police Chief James Conroy says that when law enforcement pulled up to the home to serve the warrant, there were five people inside. One of them ran out the back door and encountered the SWAT officer. The officer and the man exchanged fire.
"The suspect fired two rounds, hitting the SWAT officer twice in the chest. That SWAT officer returned fire, striking the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene," said Chief Conroy.
Al Warren says he was doing some construction work inside the house when the police showed up.
"The kid that did the shooting came out and ran back inside the house, and came out and opened fire on the police. Police returned the fire. It was like a movie you don't want to see again," said Warren.
Taylor died from his injuries.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was asked to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting, which is protocol when an officer is involved in a shooting. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy.
North Fulton SWAT officer injured in shootout
What we don't know:
The name of the officer injured was not released as of late Friday.
The GBI has been asked to review the use of force in this incident.
What's next:
Taylor's body was taken to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
The Fulton County District Attorney's Office will receive the final report from the GBI for review.
Uninvited guest opens fire after being asked to leave NYE party
The backstory:
Austin Sheffield and Will Haygood say a man who they did not know just invited himself in. They told him to leave. Police say that man was Taylor.
"We're in the garage. He walks up the driveway and says, ‘Hey, are we having a party?’" said Will Haygood.
"He walks outside and starts firing rounds into the air. Eight after he fires rounds into the air, he tells us he's going to shoot up our trucks," said Austin Sheffield.
They have been on edge ever since that night.
"Looking both ways before walking out to our trucks in the morning to go to work," said Sheffield.
Matthew Robert Taylor's violent history
Dig deeper:
Chief Conroy says the SWAT team was assisting them because of the suspect's violent history.
"The target of the search warrants was wanted on multiple firearms charges, has an extensive violent criminal history involving the use of firearms," said Chief Conroy.
FOX 5 uncovered multiple arrests for various violent crimes over the past two decades.
Fulton County Jail records show he has been arrested 17 times since 2002.
He faces various aggravated assault, battery, theft, and drug charges.
The Georgia Department of Corrections lists multiple charges for him taking place in Gwinnett, Fulton, and Clayton counties.