ATLANTA,None — A shooting involving a Georgia State Capitol police officer ended up exposing a suspected motorcycle chop shop, officials said.
The injured officer, identified by GSP as Cpl. Mark Edge, 28, was grazed in the head by a bullet and was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital Wednesday afternoon, according to Channel 2 Action News reporter Richard Elliot, who was at the scene. Edge was treated and released.
Officials identified the second officer involved as Sergeant Marvin Prince. Prince is assigned to GSP Marietta and has been a Georgia State Trooper since November 1991, according to a spokesperson..
SLIDESHOW: Capitol Officer Grazed By Bullet
A spokesman for Georgia State Patrol, one of the agencies overseeing the investigation, said it all started shortly before 2 p.m. when Edge received a LoJack signal from a stolen motorcycle near Fire Station No.4 in northeast Atlanta.
When Prince and Edge arrived in the area, they were flagged down by a motorist. Upon exiting his vehicle, a gunman opened fire, hitting Edge, the GSP said. The gunman fled on foot and was later located in a nearby alleyway. The suspect then brandished a gun at Prince, who returned fire, striking and wounding the suspect, the GSP said.
News Chopper 2 showed the suspect being wheeled away and placed in an ambulance and taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. Police identified him Thursday as Joseph Brian Gibbs, 39, of Griffin.
Gibbs was charged with 2 counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, the GSP said. Gibbs also had outstanding warrants for his arrest in Volusia County, Florida, according to police.
Scores of police cars from various agencies arrived at the scene. Investigators cordoned off a large area in the 300 block of Edgewood Avenue, near the downtown connector, as part of their investigation. Elliot also witnessed police running with guns drawn in search of those involved in the shooting.
A second man was handcuffed and escorted by police from a building just after 3 p.m. That man, Bill Hendrix, is being held on an outstanding warrant in Fayette County. A third person was taken into custody and released after questioning.
Later in the evening, at least 7 motorcycles were pulled out of an alley apartment.
"They always had bikes in and out and lots of people coming in and out," said Martin Gallard, who lives in the area.
Among the agencies at the scene included officers from the Georgia State Patrol, Atlanta police and even the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said Channel 2 Action News reporter Tom Jones. Several businesses were also evacuated in the area, including that of 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Dwight Eubanks, said Jones. Eubanks told Jones that he relocated his business from Buckhead to the Edgewood area to be part of the revitalization.
"We have patrons in the salon ... we have patrons in the street. They're telling us we can't get back in to get the chemicals out of their hair," said Eubanks.
"This does not really help our business or other businesses on Edgewood or Auburn Avenue," said Eubanks, referring to the commotion.
John Daime said he was having lunch at a nearby restaurant when the commotion broke out.
"We were stuck in there for about 15-20 minutes. Sharp shooters, a sea of flashing blue lights. We didn't know what was going on," said Daime.
The name of the state trooper involved in the shooting is expected to be made public on Thursday.
Edge has been with the Department of Public Safety since 2001 and joined the Capitol Police Unit in 2006, officials said.