A medical building in midtown Atlanta was the site of a shooting today. Sadly, it resulted in the death of at least one woman and injury of four others. No suspect was in custody at the time of the incident. Later, police identified Deion Patterson, 24, as the perpetrator in a tweet. The Atlanta police chief stated during a press conference that the five women were shot in a waiting room at Northside Hospital. The suspect reportedly became agitated while waiting for an appointment. After this, he pulled out a handgun and shot the five women.
A 39-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while the four injured were transported to a hospital for treatment. Three of the patients were in critical condition, and one was in stable condition. During a news conference, police indicated that a camera spotted Deion Patterson, the suspect, near a parking garage close to Truist Park and The Battery. The police chief stated that the suspect carjacked a vehicle to flee the crime scene.
Patterson Apprehended By Police
Earlier this evening, it was announced that the suspect was still on the run. However, it now appears that Patterson has been caught. In a tweet from the Cobb County Police Department, they announced that he had been found. "Deion Patterson has been apprehended," the tweet said. "Details will be provided during a joint press conference with Atlanta PD." Apparently, Patterson was at the medical facility with his mother for an appointment. Three of the victims are reportedly still in critical condition. Whether or not there was a connection between Patterson and the victims remains unclear. Sadly, it appears that mental illness played a role in his actions.
Patterson's served in the U.S. Coast Guard for several years. They have stated that he began serving in July 2018 and was discharged in January 2023. According to his mother Minyone, who spoke to the Associated Press, Patterson had been struggling with "some mental instability" since Friday after taking medication prescribed to him by the Veterans Affairs medical system. She stated that her son had requested Ativan to treat his anxiety and depression, but was turned down due to its addictive nature. Stay tuned to HNHH for updates on this case and others.