Argument Turns Violent at Atlanta Warming Center, Prompting Officer Gunfire

ATLANTA, GA – At the request of the Atlanta Police Department, agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating an officer-involved shooting that followed a gunfire incident Thursday morning at a City of Atlanta warming center.

According to preliminary information, the incident occurred around 9:50 a.m. on January 15, 2026, at a warming center located in the 400 block of Merritts Avenue NE, inside the Central Park Recreation Center. An Atlanta police officer working an off-duty security assignment observed a verbal dispute between two individuals escalate.

Investigators say one of the individuals, identified as 37-year-old Antonio Wooten of Atlanta, produced a handgun and shot another person. The officer intervened and discharged their firearm toward Wooten. Wooten was not struck by police gunfire but fell to the ground and was taken into custody. No officers were injured.

A bystander who was not involved in the dispute was also struck by gunfire during the incident.

Wooten, the shooting victim, and the bystander were all transported to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. Police said Wooten was treated for a broken arm that was not caused by a gunshot wound. The two victims were reported to be alert, conscious, and breathing when transported.

Atlanta Police are handling the investigation into the initial shooting. The GBI is conducting the independent investigation into the officer’s use of force. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be submitted to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for review.