Source The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Three police officers were recovering Sunday after being injured in a Saturday shootout with an armed suspect in southwest Atlanta. One was released from the hospital.
The officers were shot around 5:25 p.m. Saturday after struggling with a suspect wielding a knife and handgun in the 1400 block of Desoto Avenue in the Capitol View neighborhood, authorities said. The suspect was killed and the three officers, two of whom are 31 and one 28, were rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office had not released the suspect’s name as of Sunday afternoon, pending notification of kin. The officers also had not been identified.
One of the officers who remains hospitalized has gone through surgery and faces an additional one Monday, the Atlanta Police Department said. The other went through surgery Sunday morning.
“I am devastated that we are at this place again where senseless gun violence has injured three of our APD officers. My thoughts are with these officers and their families, and we are cooperating fully with this ongoing investigation,” Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement. “Thanks to the surgeons and staff at Grady Hospital for ensuring that our officers will survive.”
All three officers have been with the department at least four years, with the youngest being there for about five months, Atlanta police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a news conference outside Grady Memorial Hospital. One had a shoulder wound, another had a leg wound while the third had a graze wound, authorities said.
During the press conference, Dickens said he and the chief had spoken with the families of the officers.
“Once again you can see that guns are causing harm in our community and unfortunately APD officers were hit,” the mayor added.
According to the GBI, officers responded around 5:15 p.m. Saturday to Genessee Avenue and Fairbanks Street after a caller reported a man pointing a gun who the caller believed was a danger to the community. Officers found him near the intersection of Desoto Avenue and Genessee Avenue. After the man pulled out a handgun, officials said, one of the officers tackled and wrestled him to the ground.
“While on the ground, what sounded like a gunshot could be heard. The man was subsequently shot by APD officers,” the GBI stated.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene and the state agency did not comment on how the officers were shot. Officials said GBI agents recovered a handgun the suspect allegedly used.
Neighbor Zachary Adrianessens told Channel 2 Action News that some people were outside doing yardwork that day when shots rang out. Nearby, he said, events surrounding a parade were underway near the Atlanta BeltLine.
“Children everywhere. It’s the Lantern Parade today. We had hordes of children carrying their lanterns to the BeltLine avoiding crime scenes,” Adrianessens said.
The GBI will investigate and turn over its findings to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.
The incident was the 24th officer-involved shooting the GBI has been asked to investigate this year.
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