Gwinnett Man Dies From Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound During Blaze

BUFORD, GA — A man was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound while firefighters tended to a blaze at a two-story home Thursday in the 3000 block of North Bogan Road Northeast, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services said.

Fire crews responded around 7 a.m. to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the home, fire officials said Thursday.

While firefighters were on the scene, fire officials said they saw a man in the woods behind the house. The man told them the home was vacant at the time, fire officials said.

No one was found inside the house, but fire officials said they encountered the man in the woods for a second time; but, this time, they said he was holding a shotgun.

"It is important to note that the man never threatened first responders on the scene, interfered with operations or pointed the shotgun at fire personnel," fire officials said in a news release.

Incident commanders notified Gwinnett County Police, who responded to establish a perimeter, fire officials said. By around 7:30 a.m., the blaze was controlled.

As fire operations were being wrapped, fire officials said police received reports that a neighbor on a nearby property found the man dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the official cause of the man's death, fire officials said. He was only identified as an occupant of the house.

No one was injured in connection with the fire, and the cause of the fire is unknown, officials said.