Police Officer Henry Laxson
Officer: Clayton County Police Department, Police Officer Henry Laxson
Date: 11/30/2021 Location: Rex, GA FACTORS (1,2,15,18,19)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Arthur Allen Gilliam
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Unknown./ Yes, Gilliam had just murdered two women and shot a young boy in the face during a violent domestic incident.
Mental Illness: Unknown.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown./ None stated.
Race/Sex/Age: Black/Male/35
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At approximately 8:40 p.m. on November 30, 2021, Clayton County police officers responded to multiple 911 calls of a violent domestic incident involving shots fired. Upon arriving in the area, the officers encountered a 12-year-old boy who despite being shot in the face, led the officers to the house with the shooting suspect, Arthur Allen Gilliam.
Actions taken by subject toward police: As the officers approached his house, Gilliam opened fire on them causing them to retreat. Gilliam then ran through to the back of his house where upon observing other officers from a tactical unit approach, he shot at them as well, mortally striking Officer Henry Laxson and injuring Officer Alex Chandler.
Reactions by the police: The officers returned fire and justifiably killed Gilliam. Upon searching the residence, officers discovered Gilliam had murdered two women before they arrived.
How murdered? Officer Laxson was fatally shot by a suspect who had just murdered two women in a violent domestic incident.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Short of using a ballistic shield, the officers were doing their job as a tactical unit trying to neutralize an armed violent subject.
Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? The officers were using deadly force and engaged in a shootout with the suspect.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Gilliam was justifiably shot dead in the shootout.
Miscellaneous: For a man who murdered a police officer, two females, and shot another cop and 12-year-old boy, there is remarkably scant reporting on Gilliam.
