ATLANTA — Atlanta police say two men were injured when a man opened fire inside a warming shelter.
The shooting happened just before 10 a.m. at the warming center that was open at 400 Merritts Avenue.
Investigators said a man using the shelter became angry for some reason with some of the patrons inside, as well as a worker.
After becoming irate, the man pulled out a gun and opened fire inside the shelter, hitting two men.
Atlanta police said an officer who was working off-duty at the shelter then fired his gun at the shooter “to eliminate the threat.” He was not hit, but the shooter did break his arm when falling to the ground, police said in a news conference on Thursday.
Both shooting victims were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for their injuries. Investigators said one of the men sustained four to five gunshot wounds, while the other was shot twice. Both men are expected to make a full recovery.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Georgia tax rebate: Kemp announces rebate for 4th straight year during State of the State
- What to know about the possibility for winter weather event with snow, flurries in Georgia
- Man in country illegally accused of selling fentanyl at metro Atlanta farmers market
The shooter was also taken to Grady for his injuries. So far, police have not released his name or any charges against him.
During Thursday’s news conference, officers were asked how the man was able to get a gun inside despite signs outside saying no weapons are allowed, as well as metal detectors inside the shelter.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
“We do have measures that are in place, but that is part of our ongoing investigation to try to determine exactly how that happened,” Officer Peter Malecki said. “There is a metal detector inside. There are also security officers, as well as our police department provides (officers) who work an off-duty assignment to provide protection. And thankfully he was there cause it certainly could have been a lot, lot worse.”
The people who were using the warming shelter have been taken to the Gateway Center as police continue to investigate the shooting.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has also been called in to investigate the shooting as well.