Suspect in Custody After House Fire and Barricade Incident in Gwinnett County

A suspect is in custody following an incident in which he allegedly set his house on fire and barricaded himself inside. Jonathan Lee, 33, faces charges of Arson in the 1st Degree, Criminal Damage to Property in the 1st Degree, and Obstruction.

At approximately 6 p.m., officers from the Central Precinct responded to a call reporting a residential fire at a home on Gainesway Trace in Duluth. When officers arrived, they observed heavy smoke and flames emanating from the residence. An individual, later identified as Lee, was seen leaving the home armed with a knife.

Upon making contact with Lee inside the house, officers found him armed with a knife and refusing to exit. The Gwinnett County Fire Department worked to extinguish the fire while officers and mental health clinicians attempted to negotiate Lee’s peaceful surrender.

Due to the armed and barricaded suspect, the Gwinnett County SWAT Team was called in. The SWAT team successfully took Lee into custody. He was subsequently transported to a local hospital as a precautionary measure.