ATLANTA — An Atlanta police officer was wounded and the suspected gunman was killed during an exchange of gunfire Wednesday afternoon inside a Midtown apartment building.
The officer was shot at the Solace on Peachtree Apartments in the 700 block of Peachtree, one block north of the iconic Fox Theatre, authorities said. A chaotic scene unfolded as police from across the city flooded the area about 1 p.m. local time.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said two officers were “ambushed” while responding to a report of a shooting on the building’s eighth floor.
Police returned fire, killing the suspect, officials said.
The wounded officer was carried outside by his colleagues and rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta police Chief Rodney Bryant said. He was listed as stable Wednesday afternoon.
“It is only through their training and by the grace of God that these officers did not come upon a more tragic situation,” Bryant told reporters.
He said the officer is alert at the hospital, and speaking with his family and colleagues.
Deputy Chief Charles Hampton Jr. said the officers took the elevator to the eighth floor of the building and were immediately shot at before stepping into the hall.
“As soon as the elevator door opened they were met with gunfire, immediately,” Hampton said. “Officers were able to return fire, and we believe that one suspect was fatally struck.”
A second man, who police said was shot inside an apartment prior to officers’ arrival, was also taken to the hospital.
Police have not released the name of the injured officer or the suspect who was killed by police.
Witnesses looked on in disbelief as police helicopters circled overhead and SWAT units responded to the scene.
Patrick Walker, who works as a concierge for the apartment building, was at the front desk when he he heard what sounded like a loud box drop to the floor. Police came running through the doors, scattering employees and others in the lobby, Walker told the Journal-Constitution from the scene.
From his position inside a locked leasing office, Walker said he heard lots of gunfire. He then saw an officer being carried out by his arms and legs “bleeding so bad.”
“I’ve never known what it meant to run for your life and be so scared,” he said. “Now I do.”
One woman who lives across the street looked on from the window of her apartment as five officers picked up the wounded policemen and carried him down Peachtree.
“They scooped him up and carried him to the ambulance,” said the witness, who didn’t want her name used out of fear for her safety. “It was pretty unsettling.
“Before this I really never felt nervous,” she continued. “Stuff does happen around here but I always felt like Midtown flew under the radar. This takes everything to a new level here today. I don’t know that I’ll sleep very well tonight.”
Peachtree Street remains shut down between Ponce de Leon Avenue and 5th Street as police investigate. Several side streets are also blocked near the apartment building.
Atlanta real estate agent Jamie Sternlieb described the chaos as police descended on the area. She planned to go to CVS to pick up a prescription, but decided to walk the other way when she heard the commotion.
”There are a ton of cops and they have some of the buildings on lockdown,” she told the Journal-Constitution. “They’re not letting anyone into that area and they’re not letting cars through.”
U.S. Army veteran Anthony Crawford was sitting outside a restaurant near the Solace building when he saw the two officers walk inside. Minutes later, he heard gunshots and ran from the scene.
“My heart was racing. Being in the Army, I knew what it was,” he said. “I just took off ... You’re just not sure if you’re going to be next,” Crawford said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the police shooting and Atlanta police are handling the initial shooting inside the apartment building, authorities said.
In a tweet, Gov. Brian Kemp said he and his family are praying for the officer wounded in the line of duty.
“Georgia stands with the brave men and women who protect us every day,” he wrote.
Courtney Smith, the president of the Midtown Neighbors’ Association, said the organization connected the owner of the Solace building with Atlanta police, and they have been in contact.
She thanked APD and Midtown Blue for their swift response to the incident.
”Every neighborhood is struggling with crime. In Midtown, most of our crime is nonviolent. This is unusual for our neighborhood,” Smith said, adding that residents are concerned too many arguments escalate to involve guns. “It’s a societal issue that we need to address as a community. It’s not something that the APD can solve alone,” she said.
She said the Midtown Neighbors’ Association is hosting a town hall meeting with Bryant on July 13 to discuss what Atlanta communities can do to reduce crime.
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(Journal-Constitution producer Kelly Audette and reporters J.D. Capelouto and Caroline Silva contributed to this article.)
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