Cobb police make arrest of Atlanta shooter, credits technology and staff for capture

Following a senseless shooting that occurred at the Laureate Medical Group offices in the Midtown area of Atlanta, Cobb County Police found itself thrust into action to participate in a metro-wide manhunt for the shooter. Thanks to technology and a well-trained team, Cobb officers were ready and waiting.

They were successful in capturing and arresting the alleged shooter, Deion Patterson, 24, as he hid at the Waterford Place condominiums off Herodian Way in the Cumberland area on Wednesday.

Patterson, 24, is accused of shooting five women and killing one of them at a Midtown Atlanta medical office. Police say Patterson entered a Northside Hospital facility on West Peachtree Street shortly before noon. Patterson fled the medical building and stole a pickup truck, from a Shell gas station, that had been left running unattended.

Atlanta police obtained the truck’s license plate number and entered it into their system of license plate-reading cameras.

Using security footage, police received a license plate camera alert that the truck had been spotted in Cobb County. A massive presence of Cobb police, armed with long guns, began searching for Patterson in the Cumberland, Vinings, and Smyrna area as roads were blocked off and helicopters circled overhead.

An undercover officer spotted Patterson at the condo complex and called for backup.  After being confronted and surrounded by officers, the suspect surrendered. Cobb Police announced the capture shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday.

In describing the situation as it unfolded, Cobb Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer said technology played a “huge role,” along with hard-working police personnel. He also praised the collaboration of multiple law enforcement agencies involved in the manhunt.

In their hunt for Patterson, Police searched and cleared a building under construction near Truist Park, but did not find him. The pickup he stole was recovered in a parking garage on Heritage Court in The Battery Atlanta. Police also recovered Patterson’s handgun.

Killed in the shooting was 39-year-old Amy St. Pierre of Atlanta, who was employed with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. St. Pierre’s family released a statement that said:

“Our beloved Amy was brilliant, kind, big-hearted and simply the ‘best of the best. An Emory honors graduate and Georgia State MBA, Amy traveled the world with curiosity and courage. She was driven by compassion, both in her work in the field of maternal mortality, and in her everyday life. Amy was selfless always, she wanted more for others but never for herself. Generous supporter of worthy causes, she was the social conscience of our family. Loving wife and mother of two, middle sister to two brothers, and cherished daughter, she was truly our pride and joy. Amy’s friends are the best reflection of the person she was. Their outpouring of tears, love and support are beyond measure. She will be missed but never, ever forgotten.”

The other four women shot were identified as Lisa Glynn, Georgette Whitlow, Jazzmin Daniel and Alesha Hollinger, MDJ news partner Fox 5 reported. As of noon Thursday, three of the victims remained in intensive care, two of whom had additional procedures scheduled. The fourth victim was stable.

The suspect’s mother told media outlets her son struggled with mental health problems. Patterson served five years in the U.S. Coast Guard before being discharged in January. He lived in Jonesboro until recently, according to police.
Patterson arrived late to the doctor’s office and was told he would have to reschedule his appointment. It was then that he allegedly pulled out a weapon and began firing.

His mother, Minyone Patterson offered condolences to the victims  as she told media outlets, “My son, Deion Patterson, has an affliction with mental illness and mental health illnesses. A very disgusting disease that isn’t widely discussed. It’s not talked about. Everyone hides from it,” she said.

As her son sits in jail facing a murder charge, the mother says she and her family are getting death threats.”I’ve received death threats on Deion while he’s incarcerated and on myself and my family. Right now, we need to show a little bit more reserve.”

Patterson did not appear in court as scheduled Thursday, waiving his right to see a judge within 24 hours of his arrest. His next scheduled court date is unknown at this time.