2 Killed In Midtown High-Rise Gunfire As Shooter Fired Rifle At Responding Police

ATLANTA — Atlanta police and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations are investigating a shooting early Wednesday morning that left two dead in a Midtown apartment building.

Around 3:14 a.m., authorities were called to the Atlanta House apartment building in the 1100 block of West Peachtree with reports of shooting inside.

Police discovered shots being fired from a 21st-floor apartment balcony, GBI officials said. The GBI said the shooter, identified as 32-year-old Jarvis Jarrette of Milledgeville, was firing a rifle at police.

“Our dispatchers could still hear gunfire being played out throughout the building,” Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said. “We were able to contain the individual as the shootout continued.”

During the shooting, an officer returned fire at Jarrett, Bryant said.

One woman was found dead inside the apartment, and investigators found Jarrett dead on the balcony, GBI officials said. Police would not confirm whether the man was killed by police.

Because responding police shot at the man, the investigation has been turned over to the GBI. Atlanta police continue to investigate the death of the as-yet-unidentified woman.

“It appears that they both knew each other,” Bryant said. “It is quite evident that they had some type of involvement or understanding of each other.”

Police said “several weapons” were found on the scene. During the incident, police used an airborne drone to help assess the situation, Bryant said.

Bryant said he was proud of the quick response of officers on the scene.

“The response of the men and women of the Atlanta police department really afforded us the opportunity to suppress an incident that could have been much worse,” Bryant said.

Police said that as emergency calls were going out to police, numerous social media posts and videos were being circulated. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said it is important for potential witnesses to contact the police during such incidents.

“We ask that you put down your camera, put down your phone and call 911 and let us do what we do,” Bottoms said.

Anyone who captured video of this incident can download the See Something, Send Something mobile app to submit videos.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 800-597-TIPS(8477) or online at
https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online.

The investigation is ongoing. Please return to Patch.com for updates.

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