Atlanta was thrust into a state of emergency when a 70-year-old resident of the Four Seasons Hotel's private residences, Jay Steven Berger, engaged police in an hours-long standoff, following a reported altercation with a hotel employee and ensuing gunfire yesterday afternoon. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Berger barricaded himself on the 33rd floor, firing shots through walls and off his balcony, forcing the police and SWAT teams to respond to the mental health crisis turned violent.
Atlanta Chief of Police Darin Schierbaum disclosed that officers arrived around 10 a.m. and attempted to resolve the situation peacefully, however Berger began shooting using several firearms and possibly had access to knives, the commotion forced the shutdown of nearby streets and a shelter-in-place order for the vicinity was issued with officers sustaining non-life-threatening injuries, according to a statement obtained by USA TODAY.
Witnesses described the episode as surreal, likening it to a scene from a movie or the video game 'Grand Theft Auto'. Jordan Hall told FOX 5 Atlanta, "So, we looked up, and we was trying to look for him, and we seen him. We look at him for like five seconds and next thing you know 'boom, boom, boom,' he starts shooting again. So, it was like, we ducked behind here, and we just watching him." The standoff culminated when Berger began throwing items from his balcony into the streets below.
After hours of negotiation and confrontation, Berger was hit by a SWAT sniper, leading to his arrest by SWAT team members, and the suspect threw at least one gun from the balcony, raising his hands in surrender before being taken into custody, multiple charges, including aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, are expected, detailed Chief Schierbaum in a press conference covered by FOX 5 Atlanta. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is also called to investigate the circumstances surrounding the officer's use of force.
Elissa Wallis, a spokesperson for the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta clarified in a statement obtained by USA TODAY that the residential section is separate from the hotel management, and that normal operations have since resumed at the property, expressing gratitude for the rapid response of the law enforcement agencies involved. Berger remains hospitalized, though in stable condition, and awaits transfer to Fulton County Jail upon his release from the hospital.
