A man wounded inside an Atlanta warming center in mid-January is speaking publicly for the first time about the shooting, and he is not the only one demanding answers. The Jan. 15 gunfire inside the Central Park Recreation Center in the Old Fourth Ward sent two people to the hospital and ended with a suspect in custody after an off-duty officer returned fire. The victim’s interview, which aired Feb. 21, has reopened a simmering debate over how safe the city’s warming stations really are during extreme cold.
What happened at Central Park Recreation Center
On Jan. 15, gunfire broke out inside the Central Park Recreation Center, which the city had opened as a warming station during a cold snap, at 400 Merritts Ave. NE, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Investigators say an off-duty Atlanta police officer working security at the site fired back after a man pulled a gun, and authorities later identified the suspect as 37-year-old Antonio Wooten.
Victims and hospital update
Two men were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. One suffered four to five gunshot wounds, and the other was hit in the legs. Both are expected to survive, as reported by Atlanta News First. The same reporting notes that investigators say one of the people shot was a bystander who was not involved in the initial confrontation.
Officer firing and independent probe
Video and eyewitness accounts show an off-duty officer at the warming center firing at the suspect, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The city later asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to take over the review of the officer’s use of force, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Victim speaks out
One of the men who was shot sat down with WSB-TV on Feb. 21, describing both the physical recovery and the shock of being wounded in a place he had turned to for shelter from the cold. His account has sharpened the spotlight on the city, with more residents asking what concrete steps officials will take to strengthen screening and staffing at temporary shelters.
Questions about security at warming stations
People who use the centers, along with witnesses, say they are still trying to understand how a gun made it inside at all. A metal detector was reportedly set up at the recreation center entrance, and “no weapons” signs were posted, yet the shooting still happened, Rough Draft Atlanta reported. The nearby Kindezi School was briefly placed on an exterior lockdown during the incident, and the Central Park Recreation Center stayed closed while investigators processed the scene.
Charges and next steps
Authorities say the suspect faces a list of felony charges. Wooten was charged with five counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to Atlanta News First. Atlanta police are handling the criminal case against the suspect while the GBI conducts an independent review of the officer-involved portion of the shooting.
Advocates and people who rely on warming centers say the facilities are literally lifesaving when the temperature plunges, which makes safety there non-negotiable. Many are now pressing the city to spell out specific, verifiable changes to screening, staffing, and oversight before reopening sites during future cold spells. Officials say the investigation is ongoing and that the center will reopen only after leaders are satisfied it can operate safely.
