Authorities apprehended a man mere hours after he allegedly fired shots from a high-rise balcony in a shocking Atlanta shooting at a Four Seasons Hotel.
New details in Atlanta shooting
Identified as Jay Steven Berger, the suspect was seen with blood on his face as he was taken away on a stretcher on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident unfolded with shocking footage capturing Berger shooting at a group of onlookers on another balcony who were filming the chaos.
The shooting caused a large-scale police response, leading to a lockdown of the hotel. Atlanta News First reported that officers were initially responding to a call about a “demented person.”
According to an eyewitness, the drama began around 1:30 p.m. She could tell something was wrong and informed security, noting that someone seemed in distress.
The woman noted that hotel security was attempting to manage the situation but as it escalated the Atlanta Police arrived on scene.
“I went out on my balcony, and I see him, and he’s wearing a gas mask and holding the flags. Well, first of all, around 1:30, I think we started hearing it,” she recalled.
“And then, about 20 minutes later, we hear the guy still getting a little agitated and screaming. And then we started hearing shots, and normally I was thinking law enforcement shooting. And then we saw SWAT. And we just heard errant shots since,” the witness added.
Police shut down area during Atlanta shooting
Media presence was quickly diminished as Fox5 reported that by 3:30 p.m., media personnel were asked to vacate the area.
The department issued a message on social media, urging citizens nearby to “shelter in place” or avoid the vicinity.
They advised those within sight of the hotel to steer clear of windows and rooms facing the area.
Shortly after 4:35 p.m., the Atlanta Police confirmed Berger’s arrest, noting he appeared injured with blood on his face. It remains unclear if there were other victims or fatalities, though one officer was injured during the incident.
At a press briefing, officials revealed that the situation escalated when hotel staff attempted entry into Berger’s room, only to find him in the throes of what was described as a mental health crisis.
Police were called, and as they discovered firearms in the room owned by Berger, a tense standoff ensued.
Footage of the incident shows a man and woman across the street in their apartment, filming Berger as he threw furniture from his balcony.
The scene took a violent turn when Berger brandished a firearm and fired toward them, causing the recording to abruptly stop likely as they sought cover, with bullets heard ricocheting nearby.
Four Seasons shooter lived at hotel
Officials detailed how Berger, who was a permanent resident of the 33rd floor of the hotel, fired through his apartment walls and targeted neighboring buildings.
The five-star hotel was soon swarmed by police and SWAT teams following reports of the armed individual.
The gunman reportedly tossed a handgun onto the sidewalk from his balcony, he also reportedly used a rifle and a shotgun during the incident.
Reporters in Atlanta described hearing numerous gunshots emanating from the 53-story building. The incident has led to several road closures around the hotel as the investigation continues.
