Cops are offering a $10,000 reward for information which helps to apprehend the shooter after one person was killed and four others injured.
Surveillance footage stills show a man wearing a face mask pointing a gun in what appears to be a reception area
Atlanta Police Department have named the suspected shooter as Dion Patterson, 24, who served in the Coast Guard for five years
The mother of the Atlanta gunman who opened fire at a hospital, killing one woman and injuring four others, blamed a medication mix-up for the shooting.
Officials have named the suspect as Deion Patterson, 24, and are warning members of the public not to approach him as he is ‘armed and dangerous’.
Hospital officials confirmed that two victims had undergone surgery and remain in a serious condition, another had a procedure to repair blood vessels and the fourth patient is still in the trauma unit.
A 39-year-old woman was killed in the shooting in the hospital waiting room, with four other women, aged 71, 56, 39 and 26 all injured.
Sources claim that Patterson, who served in the Coast Guard for five years, was attending a medical appointment for himself and was accompanied by his mother before becoming ‘enraged’ in the lobby.
His mother, Minyone Patterson, told The Daily Beast: ‘The damn VA gave him some messed up medication. And all he wanted was an Ativan.’
She declined to comment when contacted by DailyMail.com, but authorities confirmed that she was cooperating with them.
Another image shows him without a mask and his hood up in an elevator. No arrests have currently been made
It was initially reported that she was harmed during the shooting but police have since confirmed she was uninjured.
The Coast Guard has confirmed that Patterson was enlisted with them in 2018 before being discharged from active duty in January 2023.
In a statement they said: ‘Our deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families. The Coast Guard Investigative Service is working closely with the Atlanta Police Department and local authorities in the investigation.
‘Mr. Patterson entered the Coast Guard in July 2018 and last served as an Electrician’s Mate Second Class.’
Police were called to Northside Medical Hospital Midtown, on West Peachtree Street, after reports of an active shooter inside a building at 12.08pm.
Patterson is believed to have carjacked a vehicle and fled the scene shortly before law enforcement arrived.
Four victims were transported to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment while another was pronounced dead on the scene. Officers continue to search for any other victims.
Authorities say they are actively searching for the suspect, who is known to them , describing him as ‘armed and dangerous’.
They confirmed that they were aware of a carjacking shortly after the shooting, and are working to locate the vehicle.
At a press conference Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum confirmed that officers were confident that Patterson had left the scene, and added they were still searching for the weapon used.
Officials in Cobb County confirmed that they had been asked to search for Patterson in Vinings, Cumberland and Truist Park areas.
Court documents seen by DailyMail.com show that Patterson was fined $266.50 for an excessive noise complaint in 2020.
He was also given a traffic fine of $200 for being stopped in a prohibited area in May 2020.
Patterson was also reportedly arrested for drunk driving in 2017, but ultimately the charges were dropped.
Images of the alleged gunman have been released by authorities, with the suspect still on the loose.
Surveillance footage stills show a man wearing a face mask and a bag on the front of his body, pointing a gun in what appears to be a reception area.
Another image shows him in a dark-colored hoodie, without a mask and his hood up in an elevator. No arrests have currently been made.
In a statement, Atlanta Police Department said: ‘We are working an active shooter situation inside a building on West Peachtree St, between 12th St and 13th St.
‘We are aware of multiple people injured. No suspect is in custody. There have been no additional shots fired since the initial incident unfolded.
‘Anyone in the area is asked to secure their building and shelter in place. Anyone not in the area is asked to stay away.’
Staff in the building say the incident took place in the lobby of the 11th floor, with one spotting blood in the elevator after hearing gunshots.
Dr Robert Janson, who is treating the patients at Grady Memorial Hospital said: ‘We have three people in critical condition, one is in the emergency room and two are being operated on.’
He confirmed that there was no longer a mass casualty call in place, and victims’ families had already made it to the hospital though their identities have not yet been confirmed.
Hundreds of heavily-armed SWAT officers are on the scene, with witnesses seeing several people being taken out of the building on stretchers.
In a statement Northside Hospital said: ‘We are cooperating with law enforcement following the shooting at our midtown Atlanta location earlier this afternoon.
‘We urge people in the area to shelter in place and follow instructions from law enforcement on the scene.
‘This tragedy is affecting all of us, and we ask for patience and prayers at this time.
Multiple agencies, including Atlanta police, Atlanta fire, MARTA police, Georgia Tech police, and the Georgia State Patrol are responding to the situation.
Police are currently working to evacuate people from the building and traffic in the area has been shut down.
Atlanta Mayor Andrew Dickens said in a statement that he is in close contact with the police force, adding that those in the area should shelter in place.
Medical staff appeared to accompany patients along the sidewalk as law enforcement evacuated the building.
Crime Stoppers has increased their reward to up to $10,000 in this case.
Information can be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.StopCrimeAtl.org .
Persons do not have to give their name or any identifying information to be eligible for the reward of up to $10,000 for the arrest and indictment of the suspect.
Including the shooting at the Atlanta medical facility, there have been at least 190 mass shootings in the United States this year.
It is the second mass shooting in the area in less than a year, with two people killed in August of 2022 when a woman opened fire in a condo building on West Peachtree.
That shooting appeared to be motivated by a dispute with the condo’s board.
( Source: Dailymail )
