Body found outside burning north Gwinnett home had gunshot wound

The man whose body was found just outside of his burning home in the Buford area Tuesday morning had suffered a gunshot wound, officials said.

 

Firefighters responded to the initial call in the 4100 block of Bradford Walk Trail, NE around 10:18 a.m.  A police officer located the body of the man.

 

"At this time, fire investigators continue to be lead in the case and are looking at the possibility of an incendiary fire and a self-inflicted gunshot wound,"  Gwinnett County firefighter Captain Tommy Rutledge said in an afternoon news release.  "A weapon was found in the debris in close proximity to the back door. The information is preliminary, and the investigation is still ongoing."

 

Rutledge said the victim also had injuries that were due to the fire.

 

Officials don't believe anyone else was home at the time of the fire. They had been able to account for several other family members by Tuesday afternoon.

 

"There's adults and children that live in the home. There's a mother and father and then children, and then also, another adult and child that live in the home," Rutledge said. "Exactly what that makeup is, we are still trying to get exact information."

 

As far as the fire in the two-story house, Rutledge said it's also under investigation. The damage, due to collapse, was so severe, Rutledge said firefighters called for heavy equipment to take down some unstable walls.

 

Bradford Walk Trail, the street the home sits on, is off of Bart Johnson Road and east of Interstate 985.

 

The Gwinnett County Medical Examiner's Office has the body to determine confirmation of identity and cause of death, according to Rutledge.