A gunman was arrested after killing a safety guard and injuring one other individual exterior the Honduran consulate close to Atlanta on Monday afternoon, officers mentioned.
A suspect was taken into custody on the scene, and the police imagine there aren’t any different threats to the general public, mentioned Emily Heenan, the spokeswoman for town of Doraville, Ga., which is about 16 miles northeast of Atlanta.
Earlier than the capturing, the gunman tried to enter the consulate constructing with a weapon, which isn’t allowed, Overseas Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina of Honduras mentioned in a statement. He added that the safety guard who was killed was of Mexican nationality and labored for a personal safety firm.
On Monday evening, Mr. Reina said in a social media post that the authorities in Atlanta now thought that the gunman, who was initially believed to be Honduran, was of Puerto Rican origin. Mr. Reina mentioned in his submit that the gunman was the associate of a Honduran citizen who was finishing paperwork on the consulate.
Officers haven’t publicly launched the suspect’s identify.
The authorities didn’t say whether or not they knew the motive for the assault. Investigators are assured that the gunman acted alone, Ms. Heenan mentioned.
The Doraville Police Division obtained calls round 2:30 p.m. about gunshots fired simply exterior the Consulate Normal of Honduras, which is at 6755 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and is one in all 14 Honduran consulates within the nation. The safety guard was declared useless on the scene. One other one who was injured was taken to a hospital, Ms. Heenan mentioned.
Witnesses told Spanish-language news outlets that the guard had used pepper spray towards the gunman earlier than he opened hearth. They mentioned that the gunman had fired his weapon a number of occasions, hanging the safety guard, who nonetheless managed to safe the door to the consulate.
In remarks made on Monday, the Honduran overseas minister, Mr. Reina, praised the guard for having probably saved the lives of these inside.
