Shooting kills one, injures four in southern U.S., suspect apprehended
Sylvie Claire / May 5, 2023
A person opened fire Wednesday in a hospital in Atlanta, killing one person and wounding four others before fleeing and being arrested after a few hours, according to police in the large southern U.S. city.
The suspect was identified by Atlanta police as Deion Patterson, a former Coast Guard officer. The shooting took place around noon in a waiting room of a city hospital.
"Deion Patterson has been apprehended," Atlanta police said in the evening via a short statement on their Facebook page.
Police had earlier released images of the alleged shooter, asking "anyone with information" to contact them.
The victims range in age from 25 to 71, police said at an early evening news conference. All the victims were women, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said.
Police Chief Darin Schierbaum noted that several federal agencies have joined in the pursuit of the suspect.
Deion Patterson was accompanied by his mother, who was not injured, the police chief said, noting that it is too early to know if any victims were specifically targeted. His family is cooperating with the investigation.