A routine call concerning credit card fraud at a Holiday Inn in Stone Mountain, Georgia, on the morning of February 1, 2026, ended in tragedy with the death of 25-year-old Gwinnett County Police Officer Senior Pradeep Tamang. Officer Tamang, who was of Nepalese/Bhutanese descent, and his partner, Officer David Reed, were responding to a report of fraudulent activity at the hotel located on East Park Place Boulevard.
Upon their arrival at approximately 7:30 a.m., the officers were invited into the hotel room of the suspect, 35-year-old Kevin Andrews of Decatur. While the officers were speaking with him, Andrews allegedly produced a handgun and, in what was described as an unprovoked attack, opened fire on both officers. Officer Tamang was struck and, despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, succumbed to his injuries. Officer Reed was also shot multiple times and was hospitalized in serious but stable condition. One of the officers was able to return fire, striking Andrews, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Andrews was taken into custody at the scene and, after receiving medical treatment, was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail where he is being held without bond. He faces multiple charges, including malice murder, felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault upon a public safety officer, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Reports indicate that Andrews has an extensive criminal history, including prior convictions for felonies, robbery, gun and narcotics offenses, and had an active warrant for his arrest from DeKalb County for failure to appear in court.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has taken the lead in the ongoing investigation into the shooting. Officer Tamang had been with the Gwinnett County Police Department for less than a year, having graduated from the police academy in May 2025. His death has been described as a devastating loss to his family, the department, and the community.
