Cops: Patient arrested after firing gun at Emory Decatur Hospital staff

An incident involving an armed patient inside a DeKalb County hospital prompted a swift police response Wednesday morning and resulted in one arrest.

Officers were called to Emory Decatur Hospital on North Decatur Road after a staff member saw the patient with a gun, DeKalb police spokeswoman Michaela Vincent said. When police arrived about 7 a.m., the patient was locked inside of a room with the firearm.

Credit: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Credit: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When medical staff and hospital security went into the room to provide care for the patient, the man fired at them, Vincent said.

“The emergency room was immediately evacuated as our SWAT team responded,” she said.

Police vehicles were gathered outside of the hospital for more than two hours until officers took the man into custody. He was booked into the DeKalb jail on charges of aggravated assault and pointing a pistol. His name was not released.

A spokeswoman for Emory Healthcare said the situation was resolved “peacefully” by DeKalb and Decatur police and Emory hospital security.

“Emory Healthcare’s first priority is to the safety of its patients, physicians and employees, and we wish to thank all responders for their assistance,” she said.

Vincent said the incident was never an active shooter situation, discrediting early reports circulating on social media.

“Fortunately, no one was injured and the public was never in danger,” she said. “Again, throughout this incident, the male was confined to a lock and secured room.”