Suspect had BB gun in officer-involved shooting near school, police say

ATLANTA — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says the weapon officers believe a man was holding near a southwest Atlanta school turned out to be a BB gun.

Authorities tell Channel 2's Sophia Choi the man tried to get into Forrest Hills Academy but did not get in.

As the man was leaving, officers arrived and saw his gun. Investigators said they do not know if he pulled the weapon, but said he did not fire any shots.

However, an officer did fire a shot.

A source tells Channel 2 Action News that Atlanta Public Schools officer is now being questioned.

The man was shot near the school, which is in the 2900 block of Forrest Hills Drive, according to police.

"He was attempting to get into the school. The school officials actually looked out and saw he had a weapon on him.  That’s when they contacted the police," GBI spokesperson Nelly Miles told Choi.

The man was leaving the school, when the shooting happened.

"He was off of the premises. I don’t know the exact number of feet, but he had left the premises," Miles said.

The GBI said the incident occurred off the premises of Forrest Hills Academy. All students are safe.

"I didn't know if it was at the school, at the motel or whatever down the street but I knew it was okay when the school called and said no kid was involved or no problems," said Terry Phillips, a father of a student who attends Forrest Hills Academy.

No officers were injured during the incident. The man is now recovering at a local hospital.

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The injured man was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta police Officer Donald Hannah told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. He was alert and conscious, according to police.

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