Car break-in suspect hospitalized after shootout with Atlanta police

ATLANTA — Investigators said a man is stable after officers shot him during a confrontation.

Atlanta police said an officer was on Tilden and Church Street around 3:45 a.m. Thursday investigating car break-ins when a suspect was spotted hiding behind a vehicle.

The suspect then jumped and shot at the officer, police said. The officer returned fire and struck the suspect, according to police.

The suspect then ran away but was later captured. %

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Police said the officer sustained a minor wound to his side, but they are investigating what caused the injury. However. police said the officer was not injured by the gunfire.

According to police, the suspect suffered life-threatening injuries after being shot multiple times. He was shot in the neck and chest. The man, who appeared to be in his 50s, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. He is currently stable.

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Detectives are investigating if the man possibly stole the gun right before he was confronted by police.

Neighbors said the gun appeared to be expensive and newer looking.

Channel 2's Liz Artz talked to neighbors who said they heard 10 to 12 shots.

One neighbor told Artz some of the bullets hit houses.

“I guess it shot into their ceiling and then the particle dust had come through and they thought, I don’t know, something with the fan," Christopher Bernaski said.

Bernaski said it was hard for him to believe what he was seeing.

"I didn't come to the reality until I saw the police. I heard the shots but I thought it was in my dreams,” Bernaski said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now investigating.

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