ATLANTA, GA – A violent incident unfolded at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Wednesday, resulting in three people, including a police officer, being stabbed. According to the Atlanta Police Department, the outbreak of violence began when officers at the airport encountered a woman wielding a knife near a security checkpoint at approximately 4:45 p.m. ET.
The officers attempted to negotiate with the woman, urging her to drop the weapon while simultaneously working to limit her movement and ensure the safety of nearby travelers. However, during the encounter, the woman stabbed a female bystander and an Atlanta Police Department lieutenant who was trying to apprehend her.
The authorities were eventually able to subdue and disarm the woman, who was then taken into custody. It was later discovered that she had stabbed another man prior to her encounter with the police. The initial investigation suggests that the woman was in a taxi and had stabbed the driver before arriving at the airport.
During a press conference held outside the airport, a representative from the Atlanta Police Department confirmed that the lieutenant had been stabbed in the leg. All three victims were transported to the hospital, where they were reported to be alert and conscious. The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Damaris Milton, was not injured during the incident.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities working to determine what prompted the attack. Charges are being filed against Milton, who will be transferred to the Clayton County Jail once the charges are finalized. Hartsfield-Jackson International, based in Atlanta, has been the world’s busiest airport since 1998, serving 150 U.S. destinations and over 75 international destinations in 50 countries.