A man was detained Wednesday afternoon after walking into the Atlantic Station Publix with five guns and body armor, authorities said.
Police were called to the grocery store just after 1:30 p.m. and met with a manager who told them a man came in with a rifle and headed straight toward a bathroom, Atlanta police spokesman Officer Anthony Grant said.
“A witness observed the male and alerted store management, who then notified police,” Grant told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Officers at the scene spotted the man leaving the bathroom and quickly detained him for questioning. According to police, his weapons included two long guns and three pistols, all of which were concealed on his person.
Officers and paramedics are still interviewing the man and conducting a mental health evaluation, Grant said. His name has not been released, and authorities are still working to determine why he had so many guns inside the store.
Wednesday’s incident comes just two days after a gunman opened fire inside a Colorado supermarket, killing 10 people, including a police officer.
Several police cars are parked at Atlantic Station as officers continue the investigation. Atlantic Drive, one of the main surface streets that runs in front of Publix, is closed to traffic by gates and security guards.
Shoppers were being turned away as they approached the grocery store, but there were still plenty of people milling about the open-air mall. Most of those at Atlantic Station appeared unaware of the situation at the Publix, as nearby restaurants served guests on patios and shops remained open.
Police were called to the grocery store just after 1:30 p.m. and met with a manager who told them a man came in with a rifle and headed straight toward a bathroom, Atlanta police spokesman Officer Anthony Grant said.
“A witness observed the male and alerted store management, who then notified police,” Grant told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Officers at the scene spotted the man leaving the bathroom and quickly detained him for questioning. According to police, his weapons included two long guns and three pistols, all of which were concealed on his person.
Officers and paramedics are still interviewing the man and conducting a mental health evaluation, Grant said. His name has not been released, and authorities are still working to determine why he had so many guns inside the store.
Wednesday’s incident comes just two days after a gunman opened fire inside a Colorado supermarket, killing 10 people, including a police officer.
Several police cars are parked at Atlantic Station as officers continue the investigation. Atlantic Drive, one of the main surface streets that runs in front of Publix, is closed to traffic by gates and security guards.
Shoppers were being turned away as they approached the grocery store, but there were still plenty of people milling about the open-air mall. Most of those at Atlantic Station appeared unaware of the situation at the Publix, as nearby restaurants served guests on patios and shops remained open.
Man arrested after taking 6 guns, body armor into Atlanta Publix
Just two days after a mass shooting left 10 people dead at a Colorado supermarket, Atlanta police arrested a 22-year-old man who walked into a Publix at Atlantic Station with six guns and body armor.
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