Armed suspect killed, 3 officers wounded in Atlanta street altercation, police say

Atlanta police officers encountered a man with a handgun and a knife Saturday night.

Three Atlanta police officers were hospitalized with gunshot wounds following a confrontation that resulted in the death of a suspect on Saturday evening, authorities reported.

At 5:15 p.m., officers responded to reports of an armed individual in a commercial area on Fairbanks Street. Upon arrival on Desoto Avenue, they encountered a man armed with both a handgun and a knife, shared Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum during a news briefing.

"During the encounter, there was a struggle and gunfire, leading to injuries for three of our officers. Unfortunately, the armed individual also succumbed to the incident," Schierbaum stated. The police department did not disclose the identity of the deceased.

Authorities believe no other parties were involved in the altercation, as confirmed by Schierbaum.

The armed suspect was shot dead during a “struggle” with Atlanta police while 3 officers were transported to the hospital

The injured officers were swiftly transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in police patrol vehicles. One officer sustained a shoulder injury, another was shot in the leg, and the third officer sustained a grazing wound. Schierbaum mentioned that two of the officers were scheduled for surgery.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will take charge of investigating the shooting incident, according to Schierbaum.

Mayor Andre Dickens shared that he had visited the hospitalized officers, noting they were "alert, conscious, and breathing." He also highlighted the detrimental impact of gun violence in communities, underscoring the urgent need for effective measures during a news conference outside the hospital.