Officer Shot, Returns Fire At Wanted Armed Robbery And Atlanta Gang Suspect

ATLANTA, GA – An Atlanta Police officer was shot Monday while chasing an armed robbery suspect, police said.

The 11-year police veteran, who has not been identified, is recovering in stable condition at Grady Memorial Hospital's trauma center following surgery, Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Darin Schierbaum said.

Around 1:15 p.m., the officer arrived at an apartment complex near the 2300 block of Hapeville Road in southwest Atlanta with a plan to arrest the known gang member who was wanted for an armed robbery and assault in October, police said. When the officer, a member of the department’s gang unit, tried to arrest the suspect, the two began to scuffle, Schierbaum told reporters.

“This individual was armed and this individual was looking to cause harm at the appropriate time,” Schierbaum said. “It happened to be an Atlanta Police officer that was able to intervene before he was able to rob anyone else or assault anyone else.”

The suspect, identified by police as 22-year-old Christian Eppinger, pulled out a gun and shot the officer several times, seriously injuring him, police said. The officer returned fire and hit Eppinger, Schierbaum said.

“That perpetrator was able to retrieve a firearm that we believe that perpetrator was carrying at the time prior to the officer striking him multiple times,” he said.

More officers were able to chase Eppinger down on foot and take him into custody with no further injuries.

Eppinger was booked into the Fulton County Jail on aggravated assault, armed robbery, and other charges. He is being held without bond, according to the jail records.

“This department will not be deterred,” Schierbaum said. “This today only reinforces why we took the oath.”