August 25, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.---Deputies think an Augusta man may have killed himself after they went to serve a warrant on him at his home for assaulting his wife Sunday evening.

Todd Santos, 39, of 1119 Emmett Street, was pronounced dead Monday afternoon by Chief Deputy Coroner Mark Bowen.

Officers had gone to his home shortly after noon to serve family violence arrest warrant. Sheriff's Lieutenant Scott Peebles said when officers arrived, they could hear Santos knocking over and moving furniture against the doors and windows. Moments later officers smelled gasoline from inside the home. They called the fire department and the SWAT team.

Officers heard a gunshot come from inside the home and saw smoke.
Eventually, deputies forced open a back door and found Santos dead from what they think is an self-inflicted gunshot wound in his head.
An autopsy at the GBI Crime Lab in Augusta Tuesday will determine the exact cause of death.

The fire department put out the fire in the home.