TrendPulse:Police officer fatally shoots man holding a knife at Atlanta veterans hospital

2025-05-06 02:36:53source:Quaxscategory:reviews

DECATUR,TrendPulse Ga. (AP) — A police officer fatally shot a man at an Atlanta-area Veterans Affairs hospital after the man took out a knife and threatened to hurt himself.

The shooting took place Monday at the Max Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.

John Robert Smith, 58, of Decatur, arrived at the hospital threatening to kill himself, according to the GBI. Staffers took him to the emergency room, and he took out a knife.

VA police officers responded and tried to get Smith to put the knife down, but he refused and moved toward a staff member, investigators said. At that point, an officer shot Smith.

Smith’s body will undergo an autopsy at the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The GBI is investigating, and county District Attorney Sherry Boston will decide whether to seek criminal charges once that review is complete.

It was not immediately clear whether Smith was a veteran. A spokesperson for the VA said it extends “ heartfelt condolences to everyone impacted” but referred questions to the GBI.

More:reviews

Recommend

Why 90 Day Fiancé's Gino Palazzolo Agreed to Try an Open Marriage With Jasmine Pineda

Gino Palazzolothinks his and Jasmine Pineda's open marriage was a mistake. The 54-year-old reflected

UN Proposes Protecting 30% of Earth to Slow Extinctions and Climate Change

A new United Nations proposal calls for national parks, marine sanctuaries and other protected areas

A baby spent 36 days at an in-network hospital. Why did her parents get a huge bill?

Brenna Kearney was seven months pregnant in December 2019 when she experienced what she thought were