ATLANTA, GA – A fatal police-involved shooting occurred in Atlanta on Saturday evening, leaving three officers wounded and the armed suspect deceased, according to the authorities. The incident took place around 5:15 p.m. after police received reports of an armed person on Desoto Avenue SW, said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.
Upon arrival, the responding officers faced a hostile individual armed with both a knife and a firearm. The situation quickly escalated, resulting in a violent confrontation that led to the exchange of gunshots. Both the suspect and three officers were hit in the ensuing firefight.
Key details surrounding the cause of the deadly gunfire remain hazy. Two officers- one hit in the shoulder and the other in the leg- required surgical intervention for their injuries. The third officer sustained a scrape wound and did not require surgery. As Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens addressed reporters, he confirmed, “They (officers) are alive and stable…” adding, “…They are alert conscious and breathing.”
The wounded officers included two 31-year-olds, each with four years of service, and one 28-year-old five-month rookie with the police force. In the aftermath of the events, their identities were yet to be released.
The tragedy in Atlanta follows closely after another law enforcement incident in Charlotte, North Carolina, where four officers were fatally shot while serving a warrant less than two weeks ago.