Patient arrested after gunfire evacuates Emory Decatur Hospital emergency room

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - An armed patient at DeKalb County's Emory Decatur Hospital caused the evacuation of the hospital's emergency room and a SWAT team to respond before being resolved peacefully Wednesday morning.

According to the DeKalb County Police Department, the incident happened shortly before 7 a.m. when staff noticed an adult male patient locked inside one of the hospital's rooms was armed with a gun.

When medical staff and hospital security entered the room, officials say the patient fired the gun at them.

The shooting led to the evacuation of the emergency room and police to respond - locking down the hospital as they dealt with the patient. 

DeKalb County and Decatur police officers and hospital security were able to take the patient into custody without further incident. 

Officials confirmed with FOX 5 that this was never an active shooter situation and that the patient was always confined to a locked room.

The patient, who has not been identified, is now in custody at the DeKalb County Jail charged with aggravated assault and pointing a pistol.

Officials say no one was injured in the incident and the public is safe.

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