Man held without bond in Cobb mental health facility shooting

Tevin McDonald (Credit: Cobb County Sheriff’s Office)

Tevin McDonald (Credit: Cobb County Sheriff’s Office)

The man who police say shot and injured an employee at a Smyrna mental health facility on Wednesday was being held Thursday at the county jail without bond.

Tevin McDonald, 24, of Atlanta, is at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on multiple charges, including three counts of aggravated assault and one count each of criminal damage to property, discharge of firearms on property of another and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

A Cobb County Police officer directs traffic near Ridgeview Institute on South Cobb Drive where a man walked in and opened fire after he fought with staff, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, in Smyrna, Ga. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL

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Police said McDonald walked into Ridgeview Institute on South Cobb Drive for a mental health evaluation, got into an argument with staff members and fired shots through a door, Smyrna police spokesman Louis Defense said.

“He didn’t want to remain at the facility,” Defense said.

111716 Ridgeview Shooting

Police initially said there were no injuries in the shooting. However, Channel 2 later learned an employee at the facility was shot in the leg. The employee is expected to be OK, the television station reported Thursday.

McDonald ran into a nearby neighborhood, where more than 150 authorities from multiple agencies searched for him, police said. Griffin Middle School and King Springs Elementary in Smyrna were placed on lockdowns. After a 40-minute search that involved a short foot chase, McDonald was captured about 3:15 p.m., Defense said. The lockdowns were lifted about the same time.

According to Channel 2, McDonald was evaluated by doctors and taken to jail.

Police vehicles gather the Ridgeview Institute on South Cobb Drive, where a man walked in and opened fire Wednesday. BRANDEN CAMP / SPECIAL

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