ATLANTA — An active shooter situation in midtown Atlanta on Wednesday afternoon left at least one person dead and four others injured.
Atlanta police identified the shooter as Deion Patterson, 24. He was arrested just before 8 p.m. in Cobb County after an hours-long manhunt that saw officers from multiple jurisdictions swarm all over the city.
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9:18 p.m.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has issued a statement about the shooting, writing:
“We are heartbroken by today’s tragedy in Midtown Atlanta and join all Georgians in praying for those impacted and their loved ones. We’re also thanking God for the brave local and state law enforcement who responded forcefully and without hesitation. Thanks to their efforts, the shooter is now in custody and will face justice.
“These heroes demonstrated yet again their professionalism, courage, and unwavering dedication to protecting their fellow Georgians. With public safety partners like them on all levels, we remain vigilant against such acts of heartless violence in our communities.”
8:50 p.m.
Video obtained by WSB’s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michelle Newell shows the suspect on the ground with his hands over his head, his back to officers. He slowly crawls backward in their direction before he is taken into custody.
8:47 p.m.
WSB′s Larry Spruill spoke to a woman who said she had a hunch, and suggested to police that they search the pool house at her complex.
“A shower area with no windows or anything,” she said. “It was just the perfect place to hide.”
8:31 p.m.
According to WSB’s Triple Team Traffic, Atlanta police are escorting Patterson back to Fulton County.
8:04 p.m.
The gunman suspected of shooting five people in midtown, killing one, has been arrested, according to Atlanta police.
Patterson was taken into custody just before 8 p.m. in the pool area of an apartment complex on Killarney Drive in Cobb County, according to the City of Atlanta.
Cobb County police confirmed the arrest and said they would hold a joint news conference with Atlanta police and Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens at 8:15 p.m.
6:08 p.m.
APD SWAT units searched an apartment in Buckhead that is rented by the suspect’s brother, but he was not found there.
6:05 p.m.
Cobb County police said they were able to determine Patterson was in the area after reviewing surveillance cameras. The car was recovered from a parking garage on a street at the intersection of Windy Ridge Parkway and Heritage Court, near the Battery.
Police are still searching for Patterson and believe he could be in Cobb County. The last time police spotted him on camera was around 12:30 p.m.
5:48 p.m.
Police now confirm that a vehicle they believe the shooter stole shortly after the shooting has since been located in Cobb County.
5:21 p.m.
Northside Medical Midtown announced that offices will be closed on May 4. All patient appointments are canceled.
5 p.m.
Grady officials said two of the shooting victims had surgery and are still in critical condition. One was still in surgery as of 5 p.m.Another patient had a procedure to repair blood vessels and will also remain in the intensive care unit. The fourth patient is still in the trauma unit but is stable.
4:42 p.m.
Police are currently searching cars at the entrance to an apartment complex near Truist Park in Cobb County.
4:07 p.m.
The Coast Guard says Patterson was a coast guardsman and enlisted in 2018. He was discharged from active duty in January 2023.
The Coast Guard released a statement, saying:
“Our deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families. The Coast Guard Investigative Service is working closely with the Atlanta Police Department and local authorities in the investigation. Mr. Patterson entered the Coast Guard in July 2018 and last served as an Electrician’s Mate Second Class.”
4:06 p.m.
Heavy police activity has been reported on Windy Ridge Parkway in Cobb County.
3:59 p.m.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens says all of the victims of the shooting were women. They ranged in age between 25 and 71 years old. The woman who was killed was 39 years old.
The shooting happened in the waiting room.
3:46 p.m.
Cobb police now say that reports of a carjacked vehicle near Campbell Middle School are incorrect.
Officers are still assisting in the search in the Vinings, Cumberland, and Truist Park areas.
3:36 p.m.
Cobb County police said they have been asked to search for suspected shooter Deion Patterson in areas of the county that border metro Atlanta.
3:30 p.m.
Smyrna police said they received credible information that a vehicle possibly connected to the midtown shooting was seen in the area of Campbell Rd and Atlanta Rd.
Officers responded to the area to assist in the search, but the vehicle was not there.
3:25 p.m. - Senator Raphael Warnock addresses the Atlanta shooting on the floor of the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C.
3:07 p.m. - Atlanta Public Schools say they have lifted the lockdown and will begin dismissing students.
2:54 p.m. - APD lifts shelter-in-place order for midtown Atlanta, but asks everyone to stay out of the area.
2:46 p.m. - Atlanta Public Schools says dismissal will be delayed for all schools in the Midtown and Washington clusters, as well as Stanton Elementary School, King Middle School, Wesley International Charter School and Dunbar Elementary School. Parents are being told to stay home instead of coming to the school.
2:32 p.m. - APD identifies suspect as Deion Patterson, 24
2:25 p.m. - Grady Memorial Hospital holds news conference. Doctor confirms four people were brought to the hospital. Three of them are in critical condition. Two of those three patients are in surgery and the third is in the emergency room.
1:40 p.m. - Whole Foods next door to hospital sends out statement saying they are locked down.
1:35 p.m. - Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens says he is in contact with APD.
1:31 p.m. - Atlanta police update to confirm one person is dead and four others are injured.
1:30 p.m. - Atlanta Public Schools announces that several schools are on exterior lockdown for the rest of the day.
1:06 p.m. - Atlanta police release photos of the unidentified suspect and confirm he is still “at large.”
12:46 p.m. - APD puts out shelter-in-place order, asking everyone in the area to stay inside where they are.
12:43 p.m. - APD confirms multiple people are injured.
12:37 p.m. - APD tweets they are investigating an active shooter in the area of 110 W. Peachtree St. NW.