MIDTOWN, GA — A judge on Thursday ruled the man accused in a mass shooting that killed a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worker and injured four people at Northside Hospital is competent to stand trial, WAGA-TV reported.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Eric K. Dunaway reportedly initially found Deion Patterson incompetent in 2024 but reversed his decision Thursday. A trial date is set for June 1.
Patterson was accused of opening fire in a waiting room on May 3, 2023 at a Northside Hospital medical facility, killing 39-year-old Amy St. Pierre and injuring four other women, then prompting a multi-agency hourslong manhunt that ended with Patterson's arrest in the Cumberland area of Cobb County.
St. Pierre was an employee of the CDC.
WSB-TV previously spoke to Patterson's mother, who told the news channel her son was upset because doctors would not prescribe him an anti-anxiety drug.
Midtown was under a shelter-in-place order as authorities from multiple agencies searched for Patterson.
Those in the area at the time of the shooting were warned to secure their building while anyone else was asked to stay away.
Police say Patterson left the building after the shooting and took an unattended pickup truck that had been left running at a local gas station. The truck was recovered in Cobb.
Georgia Department of Transportation cameras helped lead police to a vacant building that was under construction near Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta, where Patterson was apprehended.
A grand jury later indicted Patterson, who was 24-years-old at the time, on 17 charges that included felony murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, theft by taking and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
CNN reported Patterson joined the U.S. Coast Guard in July 2018 and was discharged in January. He served as an Electrician's Mate Second Class, the outlet reported.
RELATED:
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Midtown, GA Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.