Police say a suspect opened fire inside a hotel room after inviting two officers in during a fraud investigation.
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A Gwinnett County police officer was killed and another was seriously wounded Sunday after a man opened fire inside a hotel room near Stone Mountain during a fraud call, authorities said. The suspect was also shot and is expected to survive.
Officials identified the slain officer as 25-year-old Officer Pradeep Tamang. The wounded officer is Cpl. David Reed, who remained hospitalized in serious condition Sunday night, police said. Investigators identified the suspect as 35-year-old Kevin Andrews of Decatur. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading the case while Gwinnett County Police review body-camera footage and witness statements. The shooting has rattled metro Atlanta’s law enforcement community and prompted statements of condolence from state and local leaders as detectives piece together what happened and prepare possible charges.
Police Chief J.D. McClure said Tamang and Reed responded around 7:30 a.m. to a report of a room rented with a fraudulent credit card at a hotel on East Park Place Boulevard. A clerk led them to the room, where the man invited the officers inside for questioning, McClure said. During the conversation, the suspect produced a handgun and, in what the chief called an “unprovoked attack,” fired multiple shots. Both officers returned fire and struck the suspect. Tamang was rushed to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. Reed underwent treatment for serious wounds and was listed in stable condition later in the day, according to police.
Authorities said the hotel is the Holiday Inn Express Atlanta–Stone Mountain at 1790 E. Park Place Blvd. Detectives collected shell casings from the room and hallway and are reviewing security video. McClure said Andrews had a prior criminal history; investigators did not immediately detail the charges but said he could face new counts including felony murder and aggravated assault. The GBI processed the scene and will forward its findings to the district attorney. Gov. Brian Kemp publicly offered condolences and praised the officers’ service. Police did not release the caliber of the weapon used or how many rounds were fired. The suspect’s condition was described as non–life-threatening.
Tamang, a Nepal native who joined the Gwinnett County Police Department in 2025, had served just over a year, McClure said. He was engaged to be married. Reed, a veteran corporal, has served in patrol and community roles. The shooting comes as departments across metro Atlanta continue to investigate recent violence targeting officers and calls involving fraudulent transactions at hotels and short-term rentals. Law enforcement leaders said such calls can escalate quickly because suspects may be armed, have outstanding warrants, or try to flee when confronted in confined spaces like hotel rooms and corridors.
As standard procedure, the GBI assumed the lead in the officer-involved shooting and will present its case to the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office. Detectives planned additional interviews with hotel staff and guests and will analyze recovered ballistics and body-camera video frame by frame. No initial court date for Andrews had been set as of Sunday evening. Police said formal charges would be announced once investigators and prosecutors confer on the evidence. The department also initiated its internal critical-incident review and placed involved personnel on routine administrative leave pending findings.
Outside the hotel, yellow tape cordoned off a row of rooms as crime-scene technicians photographed door frames and measured bullet strikes along the stucco facade. Guests wheeled suitcases past patrol cars as officers redirected traffic away from the driveway. “These officers are heroes,” McClure said, his voice breaking during an afternoon briefing. “They go out every day not knowing what they’ll face, and today we lost one of our own.” County Commission Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson called for “compassion and unity” as the county mourned. Neighbors left flowers near the entrance while a hotel employee, who declined to give her name, said she heard “rapid shots, then shouting” before the hallway fell quiet.
Police said the hotel scene would remain secured overnight for additional processing. The GBI plans to release a preliminary report this week, with further updates from Gwinnett County Police after prosecutors determine charges. Funeral arrangements for Tamang will be announced by the department and his family. Reed was expected to undergo more tests as doctors monitored his recovery.
Author note: Last updated February 1, 2026.