'Heroic' Officer Takes Down Gunman In ATL Mall Shooting Of 4: Police

ATLANTA, GA — Atlanta Police say an altercation in the Peachtree Center's food court Tuesday led to the shooting of four people, including the accused gunman.

Officers responded around 2:15 p.m., during lunch hours, to the Peachtree Street food court where a 34-year-old man was accused of opening fire with a handgun after a fight with another man, police said.

Afterward, the suspected gunman is accused of shooting and injuring two women.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum identified those injured as a 47-year-old Grayson man, a 69-year-old East Point woman and a 70-year-old Atlanta woman.

They are expected to survive their injuries, Schierbaum said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

After shooting three people, Schierbaum said the suspect encountered a Zone 1 Atlanta officer working an extra job.

The "heroic" officer engaged with the suspect before shooting and injuring the man, Schierbaum said. The accused gunman was disarmed, Schierbaum said.

"I want to commend that officer for his brave action, his decisive action, to end an imminent threat to this community," Schierbaum said.

RELATED: Accused Gunman In Peachtree Center Mall Shooting Identified

Police did not identify the suspect, and potential charges are unknown.

Schierbaum said the suspect is a convicted felon with a past prison record that includes armed robbery and an arrest record that includes 11 arrests.

"This is an individual that should never have been possessing a gun, an individual that never should have been placing this community in harm," Schierbaum said.

Police first notified the public of the shooting on X, formerly Twitter.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Peachtree Center had been placed on lockdown. Roads have reportedly reopened since early afternoon.

"This is a busy area," Dickens said at the news conference. "This is where people work. This is where people dine while they are at work."

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is taking the lead in the probe, Schierbaum said.

Atlanta Fire Rescue responded to the scene with police. The Fulton County Sheriff's Office told Patch its office assisted the APD.

Schierbaum said the Georgia State Patrol, the FBI, the ATF, Georgia State University Police and MARTA Police also responded to the scene.