Atlanta SWAT Team Arrests 70-Year-Old Gunman At Luxury Hotel Who Had Dispute With Employee: Police

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The suspect throwing items out of the hotel room.
The suspect throwing items out of the hotel room. X / Bill Beard

A SWAT team arrested an armed man at the Four Seasons Hotel in Midtown Atlanta following a tense, two-hour standoff Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities identified the suspect as 70-year-old J. Stevens Berger, donning what appeared to be a Halloween mask, and whose suspected mental health crisis coupled with a dispute involving a hotel employee triggered the harrowing incident on the 33rd floor, police said, according to WAGA-TV.

At least 15 shots were fired between Berger and two officers.

Berger and one Atlanta police officer suffered non-life threatening injuries, said police, WXIA-TV reported.

Law enforcement surrounded the luxury hotel following reports from witnesses who heard multiple gunshots around 2:30 P.M.

Georgia authorities confirmed the suspect was an armed man allegedly seen pointing a gun at someone on an upper floor of the hotel, according to WSB-TV.

He surrendered and was subsequently taken into custody after he was allegedly seen tossing furniture and his weapon off the balcony.

Berger is expected to be charged with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, according to police.

Hotel guests and residents in the area were instructed to shelter in place, while visitors were urged to stay out of the vicinity as the incident unfolded.

Tags
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Crime

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