Atlanta police officer shot in Oakland City neighborhood

An Atlanta police officer suffered a gunshot wound to the arm on Monday morning in the Oakland City neighborhood, but is expected to recover. The incident occurred around 8:40 a.m. at a residence on the 1400 block of Clark Howard Lane near Lee Street. Chief Darin Schierbaum stated that the officer was responding to a mental health call and had visited the home multiple times before.

The 30-year-old officer, DeVante Matthews, joined the force in 2019 and was in stable condition. A 24-year-old suspect, Michael Gates, was apprehended without incident. A woman inside the home was also found with a gunshot wound to her leg but was conscious and breathing. The mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens, revealed that the suspect had schizophrenia and emphasized the importance of addressing mental health in the community.

Governor Brian Kemp expressed gratitude for the officer's bravery, stating that law enforcement puts themselves in harm's way to protect others. Several ramps on I-20 were obstructed to facilitate the officer's transport to Grady Hospital.