Officer Shoots Knife-Wielding Suspect After Apartment Dispute Escalates in Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga. – An Atlanta police officer shot a knife-wielding suspect Tuesday afternoon, February 24th, after an apartment dispute escalated into a confrontation involving officers along Lenox Road NE, authorities said.

Atlanta Police officers responded at approximately 3:20 p.m. to a dispute call at an apartment complex in the 3200 block of Lenox Road NE. Officers met with a woman who reported she had been involved in an altercation with a man she had recently met. According to police, the man became violent inside the apartment, damaging property before leaving the location.

Investigators said the suspect returned a short time later acting aggressively and confronted a maintenance worker while armed with a knife. The worker fled into the leasing office and locked himself inside after feeling threatened.

Officers received a description of the suspect and located a man matching that description walking along Lenox Road NE while holding a knife. Police said officers issued multiple verbal commands instructing the man to drop the weapon and attempted less-lethal measures, which were unsuccessful.

Authorities said the suspect then lunged toward officers, prompting an officer to fire their service weapon. The suspect, a 59-year-old man, was struck twice.

Officers rendered aid at the scene before the man was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital. Police said he was alert, conscious, and breathing and remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

No officers were injured during the incident.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation responded and is conducting an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting. The case remains ongoing.