Three people were shot Tuesday afternoon in a downtown Atlanta mall food court before an off-duty police officer shot the suspect and ended the gunfire.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said that the 34-year-old suspect came into the food court in Peachtree Center on Peachtree Street and got into an argument with another man, WAGA reported. The suspect shot that man and then shot two women, It’s not known if the women any any connection with either the suspect or the other victim.
The victims were identfied as a 47-year-old man from Grayson, a 69-year-old woman from East Point, and a 70-year-old woman from Atlanta.
According to WSB, two of the people shot were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and two were taken to Emory Hospital. Two of the victims were in critical condition but have since been upgraded to stable.
The incident took place shortly after 2 p.m. when the area was still filled with lunchtime visitors.
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, Atlanta Fire Rescue, MARTA Police, and Georgia State University Police joined Atlanta officer in responding to the incident.
Schierbaum said the suspect was a convicted felon with at least 11 prior arrests and should not have been in possession of a gun.
Investigators have not released the names of the suspect or the victims. Because a police officer was involved, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation.
