ATLANTA, GA – A tense confrontation in Atlanta led to the death of an armed individual and left three police officers injured on Saturday evening. The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. when law enforcement responded to reports of a potentially armed person in the 1400 block of Desoto Avenue SW, according to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.
Upon arrival, officers were met with a suspect wielding both a handgun and a knife. A struggle ensued, resulting in gunfire that struck both the suspect and the responding officers. The suspect did not survive the encounter, while the three wounded officers are expected to recover.
The exact circumstances that led to the gunfire remain under investigation. Two of the injured officers required surgery for injuries to the shoulder and leg, respectively. The third officer, who sustained a graze wound, was not expected to undergo surgery.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens confirmed the officers’ conditions, stating they were “alive and stable,” and “alert, conscious, and breathing.” The identities of the officers, two 31-year-olds with four years of service and a 28-year-old who has been on the force for five months, have not been disclosed.
The incident comes on the heels of a similar event in Charlotte, North Carolina, where four law enforcement officers were shot and killed while serving a warrant less than two weeks ago. The investigation into the Atlanta shooting is ongoing.