Suspected Atlanta hospital shooter Deion Patterson in custody

The suspected gunman who opened fire in an Atlanta medical center, killing one woman and injuring four others, was apprehended on Wednesday night, reports said.

Deion Patterson, 24, allegedly opened fire in a waiting room at Northside Hospital Medical Midtown at 12:08 p.m., killing a 39-year-old woman, according to police.

Patterson was in custody, per US Marshals, reports said.

Police believe Patterson fled the 11th floor of the hospital in the bustling Midtown commercial and residential district and carjacked a vehicle, which was later recovered in suburban Cobb County, north of the city.

Patterson was taken into custody “without incident” shortly before 8 p.m. at a condominium complex in suburban Cobb County outside of the city, concluding a chaotic, multi-agency search, Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHooze told reporters at a press conference.

The alleged killer appeared calm and docile as he was handcuffed and placed into the back of a law enforcement vehicle, aerial footage of the arrest from 11Alive shows. 

He was notably wearing the same clothes he had on at the time of the shooting. He is being housed at the Cobb County Jail.

After opening fire, police said Patterson fled the 11th floor of the hospital in the bustling Midtown commercial and residential district on foot. 

He then went to a Shell gas station and carjacked a pickup truck that had been left running in the parking lot and took off. 

Atlanta police used its license plate reader system to help track down the vehicle. Around 12:30 p.m., they spotted the truck heading into Cobb County and called their police department.

Patterson later dumped the truck in a parking deck near The Battery and Truist Park around 2:30 p.m. as the search intensified in the area.

He was eventually spotted by an undercover officer who confronted Patterson, backed up by uniformed officers, police said.

VanHooze was grateful for the role that new technology and training played in the search.

“If you rewind the hand of time four years we probably would not be where we are today right now,” he said.

Patterson’s family “have been cooperative and extremely helpful,” with the investigation,  Deputy Chief Charles R. Hampton said.

Hampton confirmed that Patterson’s mother, Minyone Patterson, was at the scene when he started shooting.

Minyone Patterson blamed the shooting on a bad prescription.

“The damn VA gave him some messed up medication, and all he wanted was an Ativan,” Minyone told The Daily Beast, referring to the medication used to treat seizure disorders such as epilepsy.

Patterson is a former member of The Coast Guard. He enlisted in 2018 but was discharged from active duty in January 2023 after serving as an Electrician’s Mate second class, USCG said.

The weapon, a handgun, has been recovered by police, he said. They are working

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens thanked law enforcement for their cooperative effort to bring an end to a scary situation.

“Not only did law enforcement bring this man into custody, they also kept our community during an enormously tense afternoon and evening,” he said.

Dickens condemned the “horrible act of gun violence” and called on stricter gun laws to treat the “National epidemic of gun violence in America,” including background checks and red flag laws “to ensure that folks that shouldn’t have guns can’t get them.”

“You will be hearing more from me on this, but today we are grateful for the women and men who brought this to a close,” he said.