A teen was arrested early Wednesday after a violent family disturbance in which he allegedly assaulted three female family members and threatened to kill them at their home in western Athens-Clarke County.
Tyler Jared Huff, 17, allegedly punched and choked his mother, sister and grandmother at their home in the Knights Bridge mobile home park on Lone Star Road, all because he was not allowed to have a girl spend the night, Athens-Clarke County police said.
His mother called 911 at about 12:20 a.m. to report Huff was fighting her and other family members and he was trying to get to a bedroom where some guns were located, police said. While officers were en route, they were updated by a 911 dispatcher that Huff grabbed a knife and was attempting to attack the victims, according to police.
As officers arrived on the scene, several people ran out of the home and Huff was holding a knife as he ran toward an officer while repeatedly saying, “Come on,” according to police. The officers drew their handguns and ordered Huff to get on the ground, police said. He did not immediately comply, and at one point held the knife toward his stomach, according to police. One of the officers convinced Huff to drop the knife and he was arrested.
The disturbance began when Huff’s mother would not allow him to have a girl spend the night at their home, according to police. When arguing with his mother, Huff reportedly punched his mother, knocking her to the floor, police said, then repeatedly punched his sister when she intervened.
While being punched, the sister said Huff had his arm around her neck in a chokehold and she was unable to breathe, according to police. The grandmother then got involved, at which time Huff allegedly grabbed her by the throat and pushed her before walking toward the room where the firearms were located, police said. Knowing what was in the room, Huff’s mother blocked his way, at which time Huff went into the kitchen and got the knife, saying he was going to “kill them all,” police said. As Huff paced the living room, according to police, he reportedly “made a comment about wanting to kill a small child who was asleep in the back room.”
The teen’s mother told police her son’s “behavior has become severely worse over the past year and does not want Tyler to return home due to his violent outburst.”
The victims, all female, were ages 15, 35 and 61, police said.
Huff was charged under the state Family Violence Act with aggravated assault, battery, simple battery and simple assault. He was being held Thursday at the Clarke County Jail without any bail being set.
Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org.
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