2023 Atlanta shooting explained

2023 Atlanta shooting
Map:
Location:Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Time:c. 12:00 p.m.
Timezone:UTC−4
Type:Mass shooting
Fatalities:1
Injuries:4
Weapons:Handgun
Accused:Deion Duwane Patterson

On May 3, 2023, a mass shooting occurred at a Northside Hospital facility in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Five people were shot, one fatally and three critically, before a male suspect fled the scene. The suspect, Deion Patterson, was apprehended eight hours later and charged with one count of murder and four counts of aggravated assault.[1] [2] [3]

Shooting

The shooting took place on May 3, 2023, at approximately 12:00 p.m. EDT. Police were dispatched at 12:08 p.m.[4] The Atlanta Police Department (APD) issued a tweet at 12:37 p.m. urging residents to shelter in place near Northside Hospital's Midtown facility, following up reports of an active shooter situation inside the building with multiple confirmed injuries.[5] The facility is located in a commercial district within Atlanta.[6] According to police, the suspect was there for an appointment and was accompanied by his mother. At some point, he became agitated and pulled out a handgun. The nature of the appointment has not been disclosed due to HIPAA regulations.[7] The APD began a manhunt for the suspect several minutes later, tweeting a photograph of the suspect.[8] Atlantic House apartments, located near the hospital, was put under lockdown.[9] The shelter-in-place was lifted an hour later.[10]

According to APD chief Darin Schierbaum, the suspect stole a white Toyota Tacoma truck at a nearby Shell gas station and was able to flee the scene.[11] Police in Cobb County increased their presence in Vinings, Cumberland, and the area surrounding Truist Park in an effort to find the suspect.[12] According to a license plate reader, the suspect was near Truist Park and The Battery.[13] The stolen vehicle was recovered at a parking garage with a nearby camera recording the suspect around 12:30 p.m.[14] [15]

Atlanta Public Schools dispatched officers at the schools it administrates and held students for dismissal.[16] All patient appointments at the facility were canceled for May 4.[17]

Nearly eight hours later, at 7:40 p.m. police arrested 24-year-old Deion Patterson[18] [19] in Smyrna's Waterford Place neighborhood,[20] 13miles from the scene of the shooting.[21]

Victims

The victims are all women, with ages ranging from 25 to 71. The deceased was identified as 39-year-old Amy St. Pierre, who was employed by the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A reward of $10,000 was offered for information that lead to the indictment of the suspect.[22] The suspect's mother was also inside the hospital at the time of the shooting but left uninjured.[23]

Victims were treated at Grady Memorial Hospital. According to the Associate Chief of Neurosurgery Sanjay Gupta, three victims arrived in critical condition and required surgery.[24] The fourth victim arrived in stable condition and was not expected to require surgery.[25] Two of the victims were able to released within a week of the shooting, with the other two leaving the hospital on May 11th and May 15th.[26]

Aftermath

Northside Medical Midtown would remain closed until May 8th, when it partially reopened for most services.[27] All locations of Laureate Medical Group closed for two days following the shooting,[28] with the Midtown location where the shooting took place remained closed.[27]

Investigation

The Atlanta Police Department and United States Coast Guard worked together to investigate the shooting.[29] The family of the suspected gunman assisted law enforcement.[30]

The suspect was indicted in late July on the original charges of murder and aggravated assault. The suspect was also indicted on additional charges of felony murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, theft by taking, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Investigators claimed that the suspect had an appointment at a doctor's office inside Northside Medical Midtown, but was not seen due to being late to the appointment.[31] [32]

Accused

Deion Duwane Patterson was born in Hanover, Maryland on October 19, 1998,[33] and raised in Jonesboro, Georgia.[34] He is a former Coast Guard electrician's mate second class, serving from July 2018 until January 2023. He had previous criminal histories in both Henry County and Clayton County dating back to 2015.[35] [36] [37] [7] [38] He was subsequently charged with one count of murder and four counts of aggravated assault.

Reactions

President Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris were made aware of the shooting. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden is "frustrated about what we're seeing in our communities and in our schools and our churches".[39] Governor Brian Kemp, following the capture of Patterson, said: "We are heartbroken by today's tragedy in Midtown Atlanta and join all Georgians in praying for those impacted and their loved ones...also thanking God for the brave local and state law enforcement who responded forcefully and without hesitation".[40] Georgia senator Raphael Warnock, whose children were put under lockdown during the shooting, addressed Congress to demand action on gun legislation.[41] Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens said it was a "traumatic day" for the city and called for stricter gun laws.[25]

CDC spokesperson Benjamin Haynes said in an email that the organization was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Amy St. Pierre, who was an employee of the Atlanta-based CDC headquarters, and the only fatality of the shooting.[25]

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/atlanta-midtown-shooting/h_490a58e841ff702873fe2a7989c8bda2 Midtown Atlanta shooting suspect arrested, police say
  2. News: Live updates: Atlanta Midtown shooting news . May 3, 2023 . CNN . May 3, 2023 . en . May 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230503183911/https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/atlanta-midtown-shooting . live .
  3. News: Li . David K. . Arkin . Daniel . Suspect at large in shooting at Atlanta medical facility that left 1 dead and multiple injured, police say . May 3, 2023 . NBC News . May 3, 2023 . en.
  4. Web site: Police chief: 5 women were shot in medical center waiting room . May 3, 2023 . . May 3, 2023.
  5. Web site: Multiple people injured in shooting in midtown Atlanta, police say . May 3, 2023 . Riess . Rebekah . . May 3, 2023.
  6. Web site: What we know about the area where the Atlanta shooting unfolded . May 3, 2023 . Williams . Ashley . . May 3, 2023.
  7. Web site: Suspected shooter was going to a medical appointment, police say . Riess . Rebekah . May 3, 2023 . . May 3, 2023 . May 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230503213749/https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/atlanta-midtown-shooting/h_d44a7e12519066354132b44d6924568a . live .
  8. Web site: Police are searching for the suspect . May 3, 2023 . . May 3, 2023.
  9. Web site: Atlanta resident says her apartment building was placed on lockdown . May 3, 2023 . Sykes . Jillian . . May 3, 2023.
  10. Web site: Police lift shelter-in-place advisory as search for suspect continues . May 3, 2023 . Smart . Sara . . May 3, 2023.
  11. Web site: Suspect carjacked a vehicle and was able to flee the scene of the shooting, police chief says . May 3, 2023 . . May 3, 2023.
  12. Web site: Police ramp up law enforcement presence in areas of Cobb County . May 3, 2023 . Smart . Sara . . May 3, 2023.
  13. Web site: Atlanta shooting suspect may be near Truist Park, according to license plate reader . May 3, 2023 . Morris . Jason . Tuchman . Gary . . May 3, 2023.
  14. Web site: Tumin . Remy . Diaz . Johnny . May 3, 2023 . One Dead and 4 Injured in Shooting at Atlanta Medical Building, Police Say . May 3, 2023 . . May 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230503182112/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/03/us/atlanta-shooting.html . live .
  15. Web site: Midtown Atlanta shooting suspect arrested, police say . May 3, 2023 . . May 3, 2023.
  16. Web site: Atlanta school district is clear to dismiss students near Midtown shooting, police say . May 3, 2023 . Riess . Rebekah . . May 3, 2023.
  17. Web site: Northside Medical will be closed Thursday and all patient appointments have been canceled . May 3, 2023 . Smart . Sara . . May 3, 2023.
  18. Web site: 2023-05-04 . Shooting inside Atlanta building leaves 1 dead, 4 injured, suspect identified. 2023-05-04 . WMGT-TV . en-US.
  19. Web site: 2023-05-04 . Midtown Hospital Shooting Timeline: Atlanta's manhunt for active shooter ends . 2023-05-04 . FOX 5 Atlanta . en-US.
  20. Web site: Midtown Atlanta shooter who killed 1 and injured 4 arrested, charged, police say . FOX 5 Atlanta . May 3, 2023 . May 4, 2023 . May 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230503193011/https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/atlanta-police-issues-warning-about-possible-active-shooter . live .
  21. Web site: New video shows the Jonesboro native suspect in Midtown Atlanta shooting captured by Cobb County Police in Smyrna. WSB-TV. May 3, 2023.
  22. Web site: Amy . Jeff . Brumback . Kate . 2023-05-06 . Police arrest suspect in Atlanta shooting; 1 dead, 4 wounded . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230503201507/https://apnews.com/article/atlanta-shooting-midtown-0dadef247e62aa87e9d3422816e995a2 . 3 May 2023 . 2024-06-14 . AP News . en.
  23. Web site: Graziosi . Graig . 2023-05-04 . Deion Patterson: Everything we know about Atlanta mass shooting suspect . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230503203427/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/atlanta-mass-shooting-deion-patterson-suspect-explained-b2331930.html . 3 May 2023 . 2024-06-14 . The Independent . en.
  24. Web site: 3 people remain hospitalized in critical condition, and 2 of them are in surgery, hospital says . May 3, 2023 . Gupta . Sanjay . Sanjay Gupta . . May 3, 2023.
  25. News: Police detail the hourslong manhunt that ended in the Atlanta shooting suspect's arrest . May 4, 2023 . CNN . May 4, 2023 . en . May 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230503202139/https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/03/us/atlanta-midtown-shooting/index.html . live .
  26. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/midtown-atlanta-shooting-victims-out-of-hospital/85-a743abdc-6902-4025-b76d-f10eeec6149c Midtown Atlanta shooting victims who were injured now out of Grady Hospital, officials say
  27. Northside Medical Midtown working to reopen as hospital navigates deadly shooting https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/05/08/northside-medical-midtown-working-reopen-hospital-navigates-deadly-shooting/
  28. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/1-killed-4-injured-atlanta-medical-office-mass-shooting One killed, 4 injured in Atlanta medical office mass shooting
  29. Web site: Atlanta shooting suspect is a former Coast Guard member . May 3, 2023 . Britzky . Haley . . May 3, 2023.
  30. Web site: Shooting suspect's family cooperating with law enforcement, Atlanta police chief says . May 3, 2023 . Smart . Sara . . May 3, 2023.
  31. https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/midtown-atlanta-shooting-suspect-indicted-on-murder-16-other-charges/WNBUDUF3XJH7TFLW2GJNGCOM6Y/ Midtown Atlanta shooting suspect indicted on murder, 16 other charges
  32. https://www.news-journal.com/atlanta-shooting-suspect-being-held-in-jail-s-medical-observation-unit/article_99a2aa74-eae8-11ed-9a00-ff46f07be8dd.html Atlanta shooting suspect being held in jail's medical observation unit
  33. Web site: Media Advisory Released By Fulton Clerk — Deion First Appearance. May 4, 2023. May 4, 2023.
  34. Web site: Atlanta police search for a gunman who killed 1 and injured 4 in a medical building . May 3, 2023 . Diaz . Jaclyn . Hagen . Lisa . . May 3, 2023.
  35. Web site: Darnell . Tim . Polansky . Rachel . May 3, 2023 . Who is Deion Patterson, the Jonesboro man in Midtown Atlanta's mass shooting? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230503210454/https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/05/03/who-is-deion-patterson-suspect-midtown-atlantas-mass-shooting/ . May 3, 2023 . May 3, 2023 . .
  36. Web site: May 3, 2023 . What we know about the Midtown Atlanta shooting suspect . May 3, 2023 . .
  37. Web site: Diaz . Jaclyn . Hagen . Lisa . May 3, 2023 . Atlanta police search for a gunman who killed 1 and injured 4 in a medical building . May 3, 2023 . .
  38. Web site: Stevens . Alexis . May 4, 2023 . Patterson's court records, including a St. Louis traffic violation in 2020 . May 4, 2023 . .
  39. Web site: White House is monitoring search for suspect in Atlanta medical center shooting . May 3, 2023 . Judd . DJ . . May 3, 2023.
  40. Web site: Bunch . Riley . Kemp thanks law enforcement involved in shooting investigation . 2023-05-05 . ajc . English . May 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230505132043/https://www.ajc.com/news/kemp-thanks-law-enforcement-involved-in-shooting-investigation/XQDIL4TSLNHANJP5BTSDKYV5YU/ . live .
  41. Web site: Sen. Warnock: My own two children were on lockdown after Atlanta shooting . Robertson . Nicky . May 3, 2023 . . May 3, 2023.

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