CAIRO — A man is dead after a Thomas County SWAT unit responded to an apparent domestic dispute in Grady County, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into the incident.

A GBI press release states that the man, now identified as Paul Charles Guerrero, 68, of Beth Page Road, refused to communicate with SWAT agents. The GBI states that authorities attempted to force the man out of a room in a Beth Page Road residence he had barricaded himself within using pepper spray and “several less lethal weapons,” but that Guerrero threw out the gas canister and continued to physically resist arrest. It is unclear how authorities removed Guerrero from the room.

According to the GBI, SWAT agents noticed Guerrero had become unresponsive after he had been handcuffed and removed from the scene. SWAT medics and emergency medical technicians at the scene attempted to revive Guerrero but were unsuccessful.

Grady County Sheriff Harry Young requested that GBI look into the incident. An autopsy was conducted at a GBI crime lab Tuesday morning. 

The autopsy performed earlier Tuesday did not reveal any immediate cause of death, according to Jamy Steinberg, special agent in charge of the GBI’s Thomasville office. Toxicology testing is pending and any prior medical records will be sought to hopefully aid the medical examiner in determining the cause of death.

Captain Tim Watkins, Thomas County SWAT commander, said the matter was now in the hands of the GBI.

“They’re still investigating, and we’re not going to comment until they finish their investigation,” he said.

GBI states that deputies with the Grady County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday regarding man having troubling breathing at a residence off of Beth Page Road. Upon their arrival, deputies encountered a female who had apparently been assaulted and was bleeding from a head wound.

“We thought that it was medical-related,” said Lt. Abby Hall, the Grady County Sheriff Office’s lead investigator for the incident prior to the SWAT unit’s arrival. “When officers got there they realized it was a domestic incident.”

Deputies attempted to speak with Guerrero, who had locked himself inside a room, but made no progress, and the Thomas County SWAT Team was called in for assistance. Grady County deputies were pulled from the scene once SWAT arrived, Hall said.

Authorities say Guerrero had an extensive medical history, per 911 records.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact GBI at (229) 225-4090.