A suspect was arrested Tuesday afternoon after police said he shot a man in front of a downtown Atlanta hotel.
Denver Rector, 22, of East Point, faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, according to an Atlanta police report.
The incident happened in the road in front of the Hyatt Regency on Peachtree Street about 12:30 p.m., police said. When officers arrived at the location, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound, according to a statement.
The bullet had gone into the man’s chest and exited through his back. He was taken to a hospital, where he is stable but in serious condition.
Witnesses told police the man and Rector had been involved in an argument prior to the shooting, according to the police report. Rector was on a scooter preparing to leave the scene when the man confronted him, the report said.
Rector got off the scooter and the dispute continued, officials said.
At some point, the man hit Rector in the face with a closed fist. Rector punched the man back, and the two both fell to the ground, still locked in a struggle, the police report said.
The two exchanged a few more blows, and Rector got up and walked over to two nearby planters. Then, he shot the man in the chest, police said.
Two off-duty officers who were in the area at the time detained Rector, police said. The Glock Model 19 gun was found in the area, along with a shell casing.
Rector was booked into the Fulton County Jail, authorities said. In addition to aggravated assault, he is charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and simple assault.
Police also charged him with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after finding seven individually wrapped baggies of marijuana, a scale and $200 cash on his person during his arrest.
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