Atlanta, GA
Fulton County man arrested after SWAT standoff over alleged dog beheading
SWAT standoff after dog beheaded
After finding a beheaded dog and a machete on Illinois Avenue, a three-hour SWAT standoff in Atlanta’s Grove Park ended with Jalen Wade’s arrest. He now faces charges for aggravated animal cruelty and felony obstruction.
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.
The Source: The details in this article come from the Fulton County Police Department.
The Georgia Department of Transportation announced that a major weekend construction project, set to fully shut down two miles of I-285, has been postponed due to inclement weather. Atlantans are relieved, with many looking forward to more freedom to travel this Mothers’ Day weekend. Kim Leoffler has the story.
ATLANTA – An Atlanta flight attendant and mother of eight is among 17,000 Spirit Airlines workers struggling to find a new “destination” after the carrier suddenly shut down.
Spirit Airlines Atlanta impact
What we know:
Spirit Airlines ended all operations on Saturday, grounding its entire fleet and ending employment for its 17,000-person workforce. Flight attendants and customers were stranded across the country, often forced to pay for their own travel home after the discount carrier ceased operations.
Kamille Carter, an Atlanta-based flight attendant of five years, said she received the termination email from the CEO at 3 a.m., despite earlier assurances from union representatives that the company was stable. The company immediately cut healthcare benefits and stopped payments for sick leave and vacation time for all staff members.
Unpaid wages and benefits
What we don’t know:
It is unclear if Carter and her fellow employees will ever receive their final paychecks or if there is any legal recourse for the lost benefits. The company has not specified if any transition assistance will be provided to workers, some of whom had been with the airline since it launched in 1994.
Employee reaction in Georgia
What they’re saying:
“This is a death because you have to mourn, you have to grieve, it’s a process,” Carter said of the sudden job loss. Despite the financial strain of supporting eight children, Carter is looking toward her passion for cooking as a potential new career. She noted that while being uncomfortable is difficult, it can “push you to your destiny.”
Finding help in Atlanta
What you can do:
Community members looking to support Carter and other local workers affected by the shutdown can find more information on the FOX 5 Atlanta website. The station is collecting resources for those navigating the sudden loss of income and healthcare.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from an interview conducted by FOX 5 reporter Eric Perry, who spoke directly with former flight attendant Kamille Carter in Atlanta. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting was also used.
The search for missing 16-year-old Benjamin Braithwaite is over. Atlanta police announced just before midnight Thursday that he had been located, more than a week after he vanished from his Regency Trace home.
The department shared the update on social media but did not release additional details about where he was found or the circumstances surrounding his recovery.
Braithwaite had been missing since the night of April 27, when he was last seen around 9 p.m. at his home in Atlanta. His family said they had no contact with him during the entire time he was gone.
The disappearance of the KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School sophomore and basketball team member had galvanized the Atlanta community. His family, teammates, Atlanta police officers and neighbors gathered at the school last week to raise awareness about his disappearance. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where his mother works, joined the search effort — asking the public to watch for him at MARTA stops and fast food restaurants.
A $10,000 reward had been offered for credible information leading to his safe return.
“Even small details matter. Your awareness could make the difference,” the airport wrote in an Instagram post earlier this week.
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