Gwinnett Daily Post

Jesse Rachell

NORCROSS -- An early morning machete attack triggered a SWAT call Monday at a Norcross hotel, police said.

According to an incident report, Gwinnett County police, for the second time that morning, responded to a domestic disturbance call at the Motel 6 on Oakbrook Parkway at about 4 a.m. Monday. When they arrived, one officer reported seeing 29-year-old Jesse Rachell "wielding a machete with blood on his shirt in the parking lot."

Rachell allegedly fled when authorities arrived, holing up in a stranger's room after forcing his way inside. The SWAT team was eventually called and stormed the room. Rachell was in custody by about 6 a.m. and charged with five counts of aggravated assault, criminal trespass and obstruction.

The mother of Rachell's child told police that he returned to the room after a previous squabble and they began to argue. When Rachell began to hit her she grabbed the child -- born earlier this year -- and ran to the room next door. Witnesses told police that Rachell then used a machete to "smash open the glass window" of that room.

The suspect then "leaned into the window and swung the machete toward" the woman, the infant and the two other people in the room. Rachell, who police said was under the influence of cocaine, reportedly said "he was going to kill the baby" and grabbed money off a table before leaving.

That's when police arrived. Exact details regarding the SWAT team's actions were not available Wednesday.

Gwinnett County jail records show Rachell is being held without bond.