Atlanta: one dead and four injured after shooting in the southern United States, the suspect arrested

DAY

A person opened fire at an Atlanta hospital on Wednesday, killing one and injuring four before fleeing and being arrested after a few hours, according to police in this major city of the southern United States. 

The suspect was identified by Atlanta police as Deion Patterson, a former Coast Guard officer. The shots took place around noon (4:00 p.m. GMT) in a waiting room of a hospital in the city.

“Deion Patterson has been apprehended,” police said in the evening. from Atlanta via a short statement on his Facebook page.

The victims are between 25 and 71 years old, police said at a press conference earlier. All of the victims were women, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said.

Deion Patterson was accompanied by his mother, who was not injured, the police chief said, noting that it is too early to know if one or more victims were specifically targeted. His family is cooperating with the investigation.

BOLO – Suspect is still at large. pic.twitter.com/M8GkXa8dmM

— Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) May 3, 2023

The United States pays a very heavy price for the spread of firearms in its territory and the ease with which Americans have access to them.< /p>

The country has more individual weapons than inhabitants: one in three adults owns at least one weapon and nearly one in two adults lives in a household where there is a weapon.

APD is investigating an active shooter in the area of ​​1110 W Peachtree St NW. Please shelter in place, or stay out of the area. pic.twitter.com/uRIBECRQDT

— Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) May 3, 2023

The consequence of this proliferation is the very high rate of firearm deaths in the United States, unmatched by other developed countries.

Listen to the interview with Dr. Julien Cavanagh, Neurologist and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Emory University in Atlanta on QUB radio: