A Buford man accused of beating his father to death Wednesday evening has now been charged with murder and aggravated assault.
The deadly incident happened in the driveway of a home on Bridle Glen Drive just after 6 p.m., according to Gwinnett County police.
Officers said 40-year-old Joseph Allen Cook killed his 68-year-old father Larry Cook during the course of an argument. Police have not said why the two were arguing.
In a press statement, the lead investigator in the case said the victim made the initial call to the 911 Center at 6:19 p.m. The dispatcher could hear yelling and someone asking for police, according to the statement. The phone line then disconnected.
Shortly after the initial call, police said a neighbor called 911 to report the beating. As the first responding officer was arriving on scene, a third 911 call came in. That caller stated that his neighbor had just come to his home to report that her son was beating her husband.
Joseph Cook was taken into custody at the scene and transported to Gwinnett County Police Headquarters for questioning as investigators processed the crime scene. Shortly after he arrived, Joseph Cook punched a female police officer in the face. Authorities said the officer was taken to the Gwinnett Medical Center for treatment and she is expected to be okay. Joseph Cook likely will face additional charges for the assault on the officer, according to the press statement.
