ATLANTA – A man accused of beheading a dog on the front porch of his Fulton County home on Wednesday has been arrested after an hours-long SWAT standoff.

What we know:

Jalen Wade was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, felony obstruction, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

According to the Fulton County Police Department, Wade was taken into custody around 8:30 p.m. after he spent hours barricaded inside a back room of his home, located on Illinois Avenue, near the intersection of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard.

Fulton County Police vehicles line a residential street during a SWAT standoff following an alleged animal beheading on Illinois Avenue on Feb. 11, 2026. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

Neighbors called 911 around 2:30 p.m. after witnessing the beheading on his front porch. When officers arrived, they found a dead dog outside with a machete lying nearby.

When Wade refused to come to the door, investigators obtained a search warrant. Attempts to serve that warrant failed, prompting the SWAT team to be called in to assist.

After a three-hour standoff, SWAT units successfully took Wade into custody. 

Fulton County Police vehicles line a residential street during a SWAT standoff following an alleged animal beheading on Illinois Avenue on Feb. 11, 2026. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

Police reported no injuries during the arrest.

What we don’t know:

Fulton County Police have not released information regarding a possible motive for the attack or if Wade has a history of mental health concerns or prior animal cruelty complaints.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the dog belonged to Wade or if it was a neighbor’s pet or a stray.

Fulton County Police vehicles line a residential street during a SWAT standoff following an alleged animal beheading on Illinois Avenue on Feb. 11, 2026. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

Although Wade faces two counts of firearm possession during the commission of a felony, police have not specified if shots were fired or if the weapons were used to threaten neighbors or responding officers.

It is unknown if police had been called to the Illinois Avenue residence for domestic or noise complaints prior to Wednesday.

Atlanta – Here are the guests and segments from Good Day Atlanta for Feb. 11, 2026:

Alvin Ailey Dance Theater: It may be a new era for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, but audience can expect the same powerful and passionate storytelling as the company returns to Atlanta’s Fox Theatre this week. 

Casting Call with Tess Hammock: There’s a documentary releasing, and it’s all about Peanut M&M’s. There could be an opportunity for you to show off your collection. Plus, there’s a new dating show in the works with the Bachelor’s Chris Harrison. 

Dr. Carrie Mackensen on social media trials & what parents should do now: The world’s biggest social media companies, like Meta and Google, are facing several landmark trials in Los Angeles. The companies are accused of causing young users to become addicted to their platforms. We spoke to a clinical psychologist, Dr. Carrie Mackensen, about the ways parents can protect their children’s mental health surrounding social media. 

Good Day Atlanta Guess WhoWeek 4:  It’s another week of the anchors trying to guess who’s behind the mask. Click the video player to check out the clues and see who it was. 

Niecey Shaw has the latest in entertainment headlines: It’s been reported that Britney Spears sold her iconic music catalog in ‘landmark’ 9-figure deal, and Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance broke records. Niecey Shaw has the details, and you can listen to her at midday on Classix 1029.

Pet of the Day: Atlanta Humane Society brings in Veronica. Click here for more information on adoption. 

When Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Fox Theatre February 11 to 15, the company will close each show with Revelations, as it has done every year since it started performing here in 1976. The ballet, choreographed by Ailey and inspired by his “blood memories” of growing up in the Baptist church in Texas, has become synonymous with the modern dance company’s vivid and emotional work.

Revelations is divided into three sections; pictured above is company member Constance Stamatiou dancing in part two, “Wade in the Water Processional.” Stamatiou explains the making and meaning of Alvin Ailey’s most revered production.

Blood Memories
“Revelations has been performed countless times all over the world. It’s been a part of the Olympics opening ceremony; it’s been performed at the White House. I remember seeing a CBS special about Revelations when I was a little girl. This section reflects Ailey’s memories of hearing ‘Wade in the Water’ sung while people were being baptized in a creek in the woods. He wanted the piece to resemble what he saw.”

Mother of the Church
“We call this part the ‘Umbrella Lady’— I think of her as the mother of the church. Her job is to hold the umbrella to provide shade for the couple who is getting baptized. Everyone is in white for this part; the colors were Ailey’s vision, and then the decor and costumes were originally designed by Ves Harper for the first production of Revelations, in 1960. Your arms are definitely in shape from holding that umbrella!”

Troubling the Water
“The pale-blue background represents the sky, and then you have the two pieces of cloth representing the water. Offstage, dancers are holding the edges of the cloth and shaking the water to make it move. Over the course of the piece, the waters start to rise, and you’ll start to see bigger waves. It’s really quite beautiful.”

Fluid Casting
“Revelations is close to a full group piece, but the casting is constantly changing. We have a book—it’s like our Bible—that has the casting assignments for each performance of the multiweek tour. I used to perform a lot as the Wade Girl who is getting baptized, but I moved up to Umbrella Lady after having my kids. I still dance other parts in Revelations, too, and Wade Girl maybe once a year to satisfy my need!”

Honoring a Legacy
“The original dancer in this role was Judith Jamison [the legendary dancer who also served as the company’s second artistic director after Alvin Ailey died]. When I dance in it, I’m definitely trying to channel Ms. Jamison, and Renee Robinson, who is also famous for this role. I’m embodying all the mothers in the church that I would see growing up—my grandma, my aunts. And I’m thinking of the shoulders I stand on, trying to honor Mr. Ailey’s choreography, trying to give gratitude to be a part of this company.”

This article appears in our February 2026 issue.

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