An Atlanta police officer was shot in the arm, and a woman was injured during a violent incident that occurred while responding to a mental health call. Authorities have confirmed that the suspect is now in custody.
The shooting took place around 8:45 a.m. on a Monday at a residence located at 1429 Clark Howard Lane SW. Police were dispatched to the scene after a 911 caller reported a man armed with a gun who was experiencing a mental health crisis.
Upon entering the home, officers encountered the 911 caller in a hallway. Suddenly, a 24-year-old man named Michael Gates appeared with a gun in hand, according to reports from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
Gates fired at the officers, hitting one of them before the police returned fire. A woman who also lived in the house was caught in the crossfire and sustained injuries during the ordeal.
Fortunately, Gates was unharmed and was promptly taken into custody. The wounded officer has been identified as 30-year-old DeVante Matthews, who has served with the Atlanta Police Department since September 2019. Police Chief Darin Schierbaum stated that Matthews was shot in the arm but is expected to make a full recovery.
It’s worth noting that this was not the first time police had responded to this home regarding mental health concerns, and Officer Matthews had been involved in previous calls to the residence. The GBI is currently investigating the shooting involving the officer, while the Atlanta Police Department is looking into the aggravated assault case.
