DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — The mother of an off-duty Atlanta police investigator who was shot and killed in Douglas County nearly two years ago is demanding answers after a District Attorney’s review found there was no evidence to support the initial claim that her son was trying to burglarize a home.
Aubree Horton, who was named Atlanta Police Department Investigator of the Year in 2024, was shot and killed on Oct. 4, 2024, at a home in Douglas County.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office initially said Horton was either experiencing a mental health episode or was under the influence of drugs when he broke into the home of Bubby Quinn.
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The District Attorney’s Office ultimately determined Quinn was justified in shooting Horton in self-defense.
However, the same report raises questions about what happened in the moments leading up to the shooting.
According to the report, Quinn opened the door for Horton, who appeared to be in distress when he ran to the home. Investigators also found no evidence that Horton was attempting to burglarize the residence.
“Horton’s death is tragic, and his behavior at the time of the shooting is ultimately unexplained by the evidence presented. The circumstances that led to Horton being at Quinn’s residence raise many questions that are unanswered by the case file presented,” the District Attorney’s report states.
Horton’s mother, Lesa Collins, said she wants the sheriff’s office to retract its initial characterization of her son.
“This is not who he was,” Collins said. “It’s not.”
Collins said she was especially troubled by the sheriff’s office continuing to stand by the initial narrative.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office told Channel 2’s Eryn Rogers video of the incident supported its position regarding Horton’s actions, despite the Das report.
“The DA is conflicting with the Sheriff’s refusal to take that false narrative off my son,” Collins said.
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She said the characterization has affected her son’s legacy and her grandson.
“I want that off my son. He doesn’t deserve that. His legacy doesn’t deserve that. And my grandson doesn’t deserve that,” she said.
Collins also questioned what happened to Horton before he arrived at Quinn’s home.
Two separate autopsy reports Collins gave Rogers shows Horton did not have illicit drugs in his system at the time of his death. The reports also documented nearly 30 blunt-force injuries to Horton’s body before he ran to the home where he was shot.
Collins and Horton’s godmother said they want investigators to determine who Horton encountered before the shooting and what led to his injuries.
“He was in an altercation,” Collins said. “I would think to investigate that to find out who did he come in contact with, who did that to him prior to him being at that home.”
The family also has documentation showing Horton called 911 hours before he was shot, but the call was abandoned.
Collins said the unanswered questions have been troubling.
“We have no closure. We have no truth. It’s not OK.”
Collins said she now plans to ask Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to assign a special prosecutor to review the case.
Rogers also reached out to the Atlanta Police Department for comment but had not received a response.
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