Clayton County Police engaged in a nighttime chase after a routine traffic stop turned urgent when a suspect fled and brandished a firearm yesterday, authorities say. The incident began near Upper Riverdale Road and Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro just after 11:30 p.m., as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, was asked to exit his vehicle during the stop and instead sprinted away, which prompted the officers to pursue and during the frantic chase, they claim the man revealed a gun from his waistband, and police responded by firing at him, Atlanta News First reported. The suspect managed to elude capture and remain at large despite the confrontation, and a gun was later found at the scene by police.
In the aftermath of the pursuit, authorities shut down roads in the vicinity while they conducted their investigation, which included laying down evidence markers and crime scene tape outside of an Econo Lodge. The public information officer for the Clayton County Police Department informed Atlanta News First that although shots were fired by officers, it was unclear if the suspect had been struck by gunfire, and there were no injuries reported among the officers involved.
Current efforts to locate the suspect are ongoing while the local authorities have not provided additional details regarding his description or the initial reason for the traffic stop. Traffic disruptions continued into the early hours as the area surrounding the incident was cordoned off, as per details from FOX 5 Atlanta.
