UPDATE: Atlanta Police arrest Midtown shooting suspect
Atlanta Police car. Photo by Dean Hesse.
This story has been updated. For live coverage from Atlanta News First, click here.
Latest update: As of about 7:55 p.m. on May 3, Atlanta Police have apprehended the suspect, Deion Patterson.
Here are our earlier updates:
Update #1 [2:58 p.m.]: Atlanta Police has no information indicating the suspect is still in the area of the shooting. APD has lifted the shelter in place advisory and is continuing to ask everyone to remain outs of the area of the active investigation.
Crime Stoppers has also increased their reward to up to $10,000 in this case. Information can be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.StopCrimeAtl.org.
Update #2 [3:25 p.m.]: As of 3 p.m., Atlanta Public Schools was dismissing students and deployed additional officers at every school. Several Atlanta Public Schools buildings went on an exterior lockdown around 1:37 p.m. Here is the full announcement on APS’ website:
“APS Families, The Atlanta Public Schools Police Department is in contact with Atlanta Police Department and they have assured us that we are clear to release all APS students in all schools at this time. Out of an abundance of caution, we have dispatched officers at every school for today’s dismissal. Because of the late release, please expect transportation delays today. For students who may not be returned home (blocked street, etc.), they will be returned to school and supervised until they are picked up.”
Atlanta News First also reported that Grady Hospital’s Robert Jansen said three victims are in critical condition, and two are undergoing surgery. The fourth victim is stable.
“We are completely prepared, and we have all the staff we needed,” Jansen said.
Update #3 [4:11 p.m.]: Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens held a press conference with reporters near the shooting scene. Schierbaum said officers are still looking for the gun and suspect involved in the incident.
Schierbaum said this is an active search. The department is following up on credible leads coming out of Cobb County and the city of Atlanta.
“At 12:08 this afternoon, we were called, just down the street, to 1110 W. Peachtree,” Schierbaum said. “This is a medical facility of the Northside Hospital,” he said. “The shooting did occur inside the waiting room of that medical facility, where five individuals were shot. Unfortunately, a 39-year-old female has lost her life. Of those that are injured is a 71-year-old female, a 56-year-old female, a 39-year-old female, and then a 25-year-old female. We do know that Mr. Patterson, our suspect, left the building. We believe he carjacked a vehicle a short distance away and was able to flee the scene as the law enforcement agencies were descending on this area. We believe he has left the area.”
The vehicle has been recovered. It’s unclear if the victims are patients or employees. Investigators are still on the scene interviewing witness and processing the scene.
Update #4 [5:08 p.m.]: Cobb County Police is assisting with the search for the suspect. At around 4:45 p.m. Cobb County Police tweeted that “Cobb officers continue to assist in the search for Atlanta’s shooting suspect. Suspect has not been located yet. Officers have checked several false alarms so far.”
Law enforcement is searching the areas of Vinings, Cumberland and Truist Park, according to ANF.
Update #5 [6:06 p.m.]: Cobb Police confirmed to Atlanta News First that they believe the suspect is in DeKalb County. For live updates from ANF, click here.
Update #6 [7:28 p.m.]: Atlanta Police have released a new update about this incident. Here’s the latest information from APD:
On 5-3-2023, shortly after 12:00 PM, officers were dispatched to 1110 West Peachtree Street in Midtown regarding an active shooter situation. Preliminary information indicated a male suspect had shot multiple people at that location. Numerous officers converged on the area and immediately began searching for the shooter and any victims. Officers discovered five people where shot during the incident. Four were taken to the hospital for treatment and a fifth was pronounced deceased on scene. Responding officers did not observe any gunfire once they arrived on scene.
Investigators were able to obtain surveillance footage of the suspect and ultimately were able to identify the suspect as 24-year-old Deion Patterson. Photos have released to the public and our media partners. Anyone with information on his whereabouts or anyone who sees the suspect is asked to call 911. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.
A shelter in place advisory was given for individuals in the area of the shooting. That shelter in place advisory has since been lifted.
During the initial investigation, investigators learned a vehicle was carjacked from 14th Street and Williams Street, not long after the shooting. We believe the suspect likely carjacked that vehicle and left the Midtown area, not long after the shooting. The vehicle has since been located by our law enforcement partners in Cobb County.
The search for the suspect remains active and ongoing. Law Enforcement has been investigating possible sightings of the suspect, including possible sightings in Cobb County as well as inside our city limits. We continue to encourage anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspect to call 911 or Crime Stoppers. The Crime Stoppers reward has been increased to up to $10,000. Information can be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.StopCrimeAtl.org . Persons do not have to give their name or any identifying information to be eligible for the reward of up to $10,000 for the arrest and indictment of the suspect.
Please keep in mind the above information is preliminary in nature and could change as the investigation progresses or new information comes to light.
Here is our previous story:
Atlanta, GA — The Atlanta Police Department is investigating an active shooter situation on West Peachtree Street, between 12th and 13th Street.
It happened at 1100 West Peachtree Street in a building that houses several medical offices and is operated by Northside Hospital, according to Atlanta News First.
APD said this is an active and fluid situation. The suspect is still at large and believed to be armed and dangerous. The suspect should not be approached. APD has identified the suspect as 24-year-old Deion Patterson.
“We are aware of multiple people injured. No suspect is in custody. Anyone in the area is asked to secure their building and shelter in place,” a spokesperson for APD said. “There have been no additional shots fired since the initial incident unfolded. We are currently aware of five shooting victims related to this situation. Four have been transported to the hospital for treatment, and a fifth has been pronounced deceased on scene. Officers are actively searching for the suspect and any other victims.”
Anyone not in the area is asked to stay away.
Atlanta Police is also aware of a vehicle that was carjacked from 14th Street and Williams Street shortly after the shooting. The vehicle was thought to have been recovered, but has not been. APD is working to determine whether this incident is connected to the shooting.
Based on APD’s preliminary investigation, the department released photos believed to be of the active shooter earlier this afternoon. Anyone with any information on this person’s whereabouts is asked to call 911.
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