Deion Patterson Update: Shooting suspect arrested
Wednesday night marked the end of a chaotic manhunt that started earlier that day in Atlanta, Georgia, where an active shooter had opened fire in a hospital waiting room. The suspect, 24-year-old Deion Patterson, was apprehended by police shortly before 8 p.m. following an extensive search and investigation.
The incident occurred Tuesday morning on the 11th floor of Northside Hospital Medical Midtown when gunshots were reported to police at 12:08 p.m. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with staff and patients running for safety as shots rang out and one woman sadly lost her life while four others were injured.
Patterson fled the hospital on foot but soon after carjacked a vehicle he found running in a nearby Shell station parking lot and took off into Cobb County, north of the city. However, due to advances in technology, such as license plate readers, police were able to quickly track down the truck heading towards Cobb County, where they spotted him near an apartment complex in the area around 8 pm.
Uniformed officers and an undercover agent backed up by K9 units surrounded him as he was taken into custody without incident wearing clothes from that morning’s shooting incident.
Video shows the moment Deion Patterson was taken into custody at a Cobb County apartment complex after a Midtown shooting that killed one and injured four more: https://t.co/rc7DYutOFu pic.twitter.com/zMj10tpOKe
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) May 4, 2023
Though thankful for the efforts of law enforcement, Mayor Andre Dickens also addressed this tragedy as an unfortunate reminder of America’s gun violence epidemic that needs to be addressed through stricter laws such as background checks and red flag laws that would make sure people who shouldn’t be handling firearms don’t have access them.
He commented, “We are grateful for the women and men who brought this to a close,” but insisted this will not be enough until change is made to prevent such shootings from happening again across our nation.”
Meanwhile, earlier reports stated that Patterson might have been affected by certain medications prescribed by veterans affairs prior to committing his crime; however, no further information was released regarding why exactly he targeted innocent bystanders at Northside Hospital or if any other suspects aided him in his escape or during the course of events leading up to his arrest.
Deion Patterson charges
According to jail records, Patterson has been charged with one count of murder and four counts of aggravated assault. The Fulton County Jail has confirmed his arrest, and he is currently in custody. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
Tragic Loss at CDC: Employee Killed in Atlanta Shooting
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is mourning the loss of a valued colleague, 39-year-old Amy St. Pierre. She was tragically killed in the Midtown Atlanta shooting.
In a statement released by the CDC, they expressed their deep sadness and extended condolences to Amy’s family, friends, and colleagues as they cope with this devastating loss.
We share in the CDC’s grief and stand in solidarity with them during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Amy St. Pierre.
Reason why Atlanta shooting suspect Deion Patterson snapped
Minyone Patterson, the mother of recently arrested suspect, Patterson, blames the VA for her son’s strange behavior. After learning of her son’s involvement with the Atlanta PD, she stated, “The damn VA gave him some messed up medication. And all he wanted was an Ativan.”
Ativan is a commonly prescribed medication for anxiety, but it belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. Patterson had yet to elaborate on the specifics of her son’s medication regimen or what notable behavior changes he may have experienced as a result.
Deion Patterson’s military background
The U.S. Coast Guard has revealed that Patterson served in their military branch from July 2018 to January 2023. His final position was as an Electrician’s Mate Second Class before being honorably discharged in January 2023.
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