Georgia State University Police are seeking a man who fired several shots at police officers during a foot pursuit on the night of Sunday, August 19.
University Police Chief Joseph P. Spillane told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the incident began when four officers were dispatched to investigate a report of drug activity in a campus housing parking garage.
The officers got the call around 10:45 p.m. and proceeded to the University Commons parking deck in downtown Atlanta. The four officers spotted three individuals—two men and a woman—in one of the building’s stairwells. Upon seeing the police, all three fled.
Two women told @wsbtv they were in a car, when a man with a gun ran up to them and tried to pull one woman out. She said police rounded the corner, and the guy ran. Ramp to interstate near Piedmont North closed. APD, GSU Police on scene. pic.twitter.com/5rKz5gJJhp
— Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) August 20, 2018
The officers chased one individual, but as they approached, the man drew a handgun and “fired several shots at an officer while a chase ensued,” Chief Spillane told the Journal-Constitution.
Two of the officers returned fire, Patch.com reported. The officers do not believe anyone was hit by the gunfire.
According to Patch.com, the armed man then tried to hijack a car to flee the area.
GSU student Cairah Finley told WSB-TV that the man tried to pull her out of her car, but she resisted.
“He was like, ‘Come on come on come on come on,’ and the cops were running, looking for him,” she explained.
“When he was grabbing my arm I’m like, ‘What in the w …?’ Like, I was so scared I didn’t know what to do.
“I didn’t want to just kick him, and he just release the gun, because he had his hand on the trigger, so I just—I was really scared.”
As the police ran up, the would-be carjacker released Finley and ran off.
The man then tried to hijack another car on Piedmont Avenue. When more officers approached, the man escaped across the I-75/I-400 Downtown connector. Police lost his trail after he crossed the highway.
GSU Police got in a running gun battle with a suspect who fled the Atlanta campus and remains on the loose: https://t.co/i8Uy2dfb65 pic.twitter.com/K8NSPqoZzD
— Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) August 20, 2018
School Year Starts With Campus Lockdown
Georgia State University was locked down for about two hours Sunday night and into Monday morning.
Monday was the first day of scheduled classes for the fall semester Students arriving for the commencement of their studies there.
One student, Karice Davis, was just arriving at the dorms when she saw law enforcement officers covering the area.
“I pulled up to the school and they were like, ‘Get inside! Get inside!’” she told WSB.
“I didn’t know what had happened then they sent us a message there was a shooting in the area.”
The school tweeted an “All Clear” early Monday morning.
ALL CLEAR has been issued for the Atlanta Campus. Remains an active crime scene. No immediate danger to the campus community at this time.
— Georgia State U. (@GeorgiaStateU) August 20, 2018
Photos of Suspects Released
Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta has released surveillance photos of two of the perpetrators.
One shot shows the shooter. The other shows the woman who was with the two men in the stairwell.
Police ask anyone who recognizes either individual or has any information about the crime to call Crime Stoppers at 404 577-TIPS(8477).
Crime Stoppers reminds callers they will remain anonymous, and moreover will be eligible for a $2,000 reward if their information leads to an arrest.
Watch Next:
Why did the US Leave the UN Human Rights Council
“We are withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council, an organization that is not worthy of its name.”
