Officer Charged in Security Guard Shooting

MARIETTA, GA

After seven years on the force, Atlanta police officer John Freeman is being charged with murder.

Investigators say he shot and killed an unarmed security guard at the apartment complex where Freeman lives with his wife and two children. It happened at 4:28am Saturday at the Ivy Ridge Apartments on Bentley Road.

Cobb County police say 37-year-old Xavier Mallet of Marietta, Georgia, who provides security at the apartments, was banging on Freeman's front door. Freeman's wife answered the door and Mallet reportedly forced his way in. Authorities will not elaborate on what happened inside the home, but say Freeman's wife ran from the home followed by Mallet and Freeman. There was some sort of physical altercation and investigators say Freeman went back into his apartment, got his gun and shot and killed Mallet as he was leaving.

Freeman made his first court appearance Saturday night, but had his attorney, Bruce Harvey, represent him in front of the judge. Two of Freeman's fellow officers watched the appearance and afterward Harvey insisted that once all the facts the charges should be dropped against his client.

"You know Georgia has a 'stand your ground law' meaning that you can defend not just yourself, but your wife, your children, or even your property," said Harvey.

Harvey says Freeman has been placed on paid administrative leave and the Atlanta Police Department says it is cooperating fully with Cobb County investigators and, at the same time, is conducting it's own internal investigation.