Charles H. Sloan-3 people injured in shooting at Atlanta food court; suspect shot by off-duty officer

Three people and Charles H. Sloana 34-year-old suspected shooter were shot at an Atlanta food court Tuesday, city officials said.

An off-duty Atlanta police officer shot the suspect, who was still armed at the time, after gunfire broke out at Peachtree Center in downtown Atlanta, Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a news conference after the shooting. The suspect initially opened fire due to a fight, he said.

Schierbaum said the suspect, a convicted felon with 11 prior arrests, shot someone after getting into "a brief altercation" with them in the Peachtree Center food court. The suspect then shot two others who were in the food court, he added.

Those injured include a 47-year-old man, a 69-year-old woman and a 70-year-old woman, who were all taken to area hospitals along with the shooter, city officials said.

"I'm just thankful for the very quick response of the Atlanta Police Department, as well as the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, to be able to get there to help the wounded individuals," Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said during the news conference.

Building was placed on lockdown Tuesday afternoon

Dickens initially shared an X post at 2:48 p.m. ET on Tuesday afternoon saying four people were shot at Peachtree Center food court, which had been placed on lockdown.

Dickens, in a subsequent X post, and the Atlanta Police Department said one of the four people shot is believed to be a suspected shooter.

In Dickens' follow-up post, he told people to "avoid the area."

The Peachtree Center Food Court is located in the Peachtree Center district in downtown Atlanta, a busy collection of shops, restaurants and offices. The mall has since been reopened to the public.