Cobb County Police Department Apprehends Suspect in Atlanta Shooting That Resulted in 1 Death and 4 Injuries

The Cobb County Police Department has reported the arrest of Deion Patterson, the alleged gunman in the shooting incident that occurred in an Atlanta medical office building on Wednesday afternoon.

Following an extensive manhunt, Patterson was apprehended in Cobb County, situated in the northwest of Atlanta, shortly before 8 p.m. ET.

Patterson is facing charges related to the shooting, which resulted in the death of a 39-year-old woman and injuries to four other women at the Northside Hospital Midtown Medical building. 

Three of the injured victims were in critical condition and were sent to Grady Memorial Hospital, as reported by Dr. Robert Jansen, the hospital's chief of staff, who addressed the media on Wednesday. As of Wednesday evening, one of the victims remained in the operating room.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum has reported that the injured women, aged between 25 to 71, were either employees or patients of the medical practice. It remains uncertain whether the gunman specifically targeted these victims or not.

As police continue their investigation, the motive for the shooting remains unclear.

Report: Atlanta Shooting Suspect, Deion Patterson, Had an Appointment at the Building

At approximately midday local time, the events of the day began to unfold as the police received reports of a shooting in the waiting room of the medical center.

According to the Atlanta police chief, Patterson's mother was with him during the time of the shooting, but she was not one of the victims. Earlier in the day, the police chief also stated that the alleged shooter's family is cooperating with law enforcement.

Subsequent information from the police indicated that Patterson had a scheduled appointment in the building on the day of the shooting. 

He spent only two minutes inside the building before fleeing on foot to a nearby Shell gas station. At approximately 12:30 p.m., he stole a pickup truck that had been left running.

Law enforcement agencies from the Atlanta region, along with federal agencies, were involved in the investigation and the subsequent manhunt. Police were able to track the stolen truck to Cobb County,

Where they narrowed down their search to a building close to a shopping area by Truist Park, the home of the Atlanta Braves baseball team. It was at this location that they arrested Patterson.

Earlier in the day, Schierbaum had acknowledged that witnesses played a vital role by reporting sightings of the alleged suspect in both Atlanta and other locations in Cobb County while he was on the run. Officials have attributed the successful tracking of Patterson's location to the collaborative efforts of witnesses and technology.

Atlanta and Cobb County officers have revealed limited information about the case due to the ongoing investigation and pending criminal case.

Schierbaum did mention that the suspect, prior to the shooting, had "minimal contact" with the police department.

Eye-Witness Recounts Aftermath of the Atlanta Shooting

KJ Johnson, who was present at the Northside medical building for his son's appointment, shared his account of the shooting with reporters. He stated that while he was in the waiting room, he heard what he believed were motorcycle backfires. 

However, it was the television in the waiting room that ultimately alerted Johnson and the other patients to the attack.

Johnson, who was standing outside the building, explained that prior to seeing the breaking news on television, they had no knowledge of the shooting. "But then the television was on and there was breaking news on the television. 

And they mentioned that there was an active shooter and they gave the address and the address was the building that we were in," Johnson recounted.

Johnson, who was on the ninth floor at the time of the shooting, shared that the shooting had occurred just two floors above them. "We were in the ninth floor. 

So once everyone heard the shooting happened on the 11th floor, you can imagine that some of the folks in the room got a little nervous, a little tense," he said.

Despite the tense situation, Johnson praised the medical staff's handling of the situation, saying they kept everyone calm and escorted them to a secure back room until police arrived.

He also recounted assisting a patient with limited mobility to safety by walking down the nine flights of stairs once they were evacuated.

Northside Hospital has released a statement saying it is cooperating with the ongoing investigation and asked for patience and prayers during this difficult time. 

The Northside Medical Midtown office will be closed on Thursday.

Sen. Raphael Warnock revealed that his children were on lockdown due to the shooting.

On Wednesday afternoon, Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock spoke out about the shooting, expressing his anger and frustration at the continued gun violence in America. 

He lamented that the incident is another addition to the long list of mass shootings in the country, which politicians have failed to address. Senator Warnock also revealed that his own children were on lockdown at their school due to the shooting.

"In all honesty, I rise with a deep sense of anger about what is happening in our country in the area of gun violence and death," Warnock said during his address to the Senate.

In his speech, he also referenced a similar address he gave in March 2021 following a shooting at Atlanta-area spas that killed eight people, six of whom were of Asian descent.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 190 mass shootings in the U.S. this year alone. 

Senator Raphael Warnock addressed the Senate on Wednesday afternoon, expressing his anger and frustration at yet another tragic incident of gun violence. 

He mentioned that his own children were in lockdown at school during the shooting.

Warnock pointed out that mass shootings have become all too common in the U.S., with incidents occurring in schools, grocery stores, workplaces, religious institutions, and now, medical facilities. 

He stressed the urgency for Congress to take action and pass substantial gun safety legislation.

Warnock, who is also a pastor, argued that prayers are not enough, and called on his fellow politicians to take action. He emphasized the importance of not just praying with words, but also with actions.

"We pray not only with our lips, we pray with our legs. We pray by taking action," he said.