Suspect in custody after mass shooting at Atlanta hospital

According to the Atlanta Police Department, the shooting occurred around noon inside a building on West Peachtree Street between 12th and 13th Streets.

At least four people were rushed to Grady Hospital for treatment while a fifth was pronounced dead at the scene.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum told reporters that all five victims were shot in a waiting area on the 11th floor of the medical facility and that all five victims were women. A 39-year-old woman was killed and the other four victims were ages 25, 39, 56, and 71.

According to the chief, the suspect carjacked a vehicle before fleeing the scene of the shooting and officers later recovered the vehicle during the manhunt.

Police identified the suspect as Deion Patterson, 24. Schierbaum said a motive has not yet been established.

According to the Office of public affairs for the Military branch, Patterson is a former member of the US Coast Guard who first entered the service in July 2018 and worked his way up to an Electrician’s Mate Second Class before being discharged from active duty in January 2023.

The public affairs office said, "The Coast Guard is aware of the tragic incident in Atlanta allegedly involving Mr. Deion Patterson. Our deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families. The Coast Guard Investigative Service is working closely with the Atlanta Police Department and local authorities in the investigation."

Patterson also has prior convictions including a violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act, failing to appear in court, and a probation violation which resulted in the revocation of his probation.

Cobb County Police Department Sergeant Wayne Delk said a Department of Transportation camera captured Patterson and the vehicle in that vicinity at 12:30 pm, but his department was not informed of the sighting until almost two hours later.

Police told reporters that Patterson remained in the building where he allegedly opened fire for approximately two minutes after the shooting, before walking out heading for a nearby Shell gas station, and stealing a pickup truck that was running. The vehicle was later found in a parking garage on Heritage Court.

Cobb County Police Department chief Stuart Van Hoozer said his department received many tips throughout the day from people claiming to have seen Patterson and that one of them led to an undercover agent approaching Patterson before he was taken into custody.