ATLANTA — Authorities are working to identify a man who they say shot at officers on the campus of Georgia State University, just hours before students started classes.
It started when four GSU officers responded to suspected drug activity in the northeast stairwell of the
University Commons parking deck around 10:45 p.m. Sunday.
Officers arrived and found a man and a woman who they said then ran from police, according to Georgia State University Police Chief Joseph Spillane.
An officer responded and got in a tussle with the man as he tried to get away.
Cairah Finely said he tried carjacking her as he ran from police.
"When he's grabbing my arm, I'm like, 'What in the world?' I was so scared I didn't know what to do. And (I) didn't want to kick him and he release the gun because he had his hand on the trigger was just really scared," she said.
The suspect was able to get away and ran from the area. The responding officer said he noticed the man was armed.
Other officers arrived and found the man, who police say tried to carjack two separate cars on Piedmont Road as he was trying to get away.
Witnesses in one of the cars confirmed to police that the man had a pistol. When he kept running, the suspect fired three gunshots at officers and they returned fire.
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One student was just returning to her dorm as police swarmed the area.
"(I) pulled up to the school and they were like, 'Get inside! Get inside!' I didn't know what had happened then they sent us a message there was a shooting in the area," said Karice Davis.
Neither the officers nor the suspect were hurt, police said.
The suspect ran to the other side of the interstate where police say a K9 lost track of his scent.
GSU police are trying to identify the man they are looking for. The GBI was called but because no one was shot, they will not lead the investigation. GSU will continue to investigate the shooting.
Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta posted photos of two of the suspects.
GSU: Georgia State University Police are asking for the public's help as they investigate the shooting incident that...
Posted by Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta on Monday, August 20, 2018
Two women told Channel 2 Action News they were in a car when the man with the gun ran up to them and tried to pull one woman out.
She said when police rounded the corner, the man took off.
Two women told @wsbtv they were in a car, when a man with a gun ran up to them and tried to pull one woman out. She said police rounded the corner, and the guy ran. Ramp to interstate near Piedmont North closed. APD, GSU Police on scene. pic.twitter.com/5rKz5gJJhp
— Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlaus) August 20, 2018
Georgia State University tweeted about the gunshots Sunday night and said people should seek shelter.
Report of gunshots fired near the University Commons. Seek shelter. For safety, lock doors and remain inside.
— Georgia State University (@GeorgiaStateU) August 20, 2018
The campus lockdown was lifted just before 1 a.m. Monday, school officials told Channel 2 Action News. Just before 3 a.m., the school tweeted that an all-clear had been given for the Atlanta campus.
“(There’s) no immediate danger to the campus community at this time,” the school stated.
ALL CLEAR has been issued for the Atlanta Campus. Remains an active crime scene. No immediate danger to the campus community at this time.
— Georgia State University (@GeorgiaStateU) August 20, 2018
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