Atlanta Police shot and killed an armed robber Thursday afternoon. Atlanta Police say officers were forced to shoot the armed robber because he initiated firing “multiple rounds at officers at two different locations.”
The shooting, which quickly became deadly, began “at the gas station on the corner of Moreland Avenue SE and Memorial Drive in east Atlanta.” As reported, the shooting started around 1 p.m. at 205 Memorial Drive. At a press conference, Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Charles Hampton outlined the events which lead to the deadly shooting exchange.
Deputy Chief Hampton stated that an officer encountered a man loading a firearm and commanded him to drop his gun. The man refused the command and “fired a shot at the officer’s patrol car.” As alleged, the officer “was not injured and was able to give a good description of the man over the radio.” Thereafter the firing at the police car, the man fled to the nearby gas station. More officers arrived at the scene. As described by Hampton, the man “forced his way behind the counter, gun in hand, and attempted to get into the cash register.”
Officers called out to him from outside the store, but, according to Hampton, the man fired his weapon at least once at the officers. Two clerks were inside the store. None were injured. As described, officers retreated to safer, more tactically practical locations minutes before the man came out of the store brandishing his weapon. “Officers discharged their weapon,” hitting the suspect.
Hampton provided more information detailing the exchange of gunfire. “Even while on the ground, the suspect fired at least one more round in the direction of officers.” At that point, “Multiple officers discharged their weapon, striking the suspect.” According to one witness, who spoke with FOX 5 Atlanta, about six gunshots were heard. “The man was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital where he died. No officers were injured by gunfire.”
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum praised the officers for stopping the armed man before someone got hurt. The name of the man has not been released.
