Police: Three officers wounded, suspect dead

Three police officers were recovering Sunday after being injured in Saturday shootout with an armed suspect in southwest Atlanta. One has been released from the hospital while the others remain.

The officers were shot around 5:25 p.m. Saturday after struggling with a suspect wielding a knife and handgun in the 1400 block of Desoto Avenue in the Capitol View neighborhood, authorities said. The suspect was killed and three officers, two of whom are 31 and one 28, were rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital.

Because his family hadn’t been notified of his death Sunday afternoon, the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office did not release the suspect’s name.

One of the officers who remains hospitalized has gone through surgery and faces an additional one Monday, the Atlanta Police Department said. The other was in surgery Sunday morning.

“I am devastated that we are at this place again where senseless gun violence has injured three of our APD officers. My thoughts are with these officers and their families, and we are cooperating fully with this ongoing investigation,” Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement. “Thanks to the surgeons and staff at Grady Hospital for ensuring that our officers will survive.”

All three officers have been with the department at least four years, with the youngest being there for about five months, Atlanta police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a news conference outside Grady Memorial Hospital. One had a shoulder wound, another had a leg wound while the third had a graze wound, authorities said.

During the news conference, Dickens said he and the chief spoke with the families of the officers.

“Once again you can see that guns are causing harm in our community and unfortunately APD officers were hit,” the mayor added.

According to the GBI, officers responded around 5:15 p.m. to Genessee Avenue and Fairbanks Street after a caller reported a man pointing a gun. When officers found him, the man pulled out a handgun. Officials said an officer tackled and wrestled him to the ground.

“While on the ground, what sounded like a gunshot could be heard. The man was subsequently shot by APD officers,” the GBI stated.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.