Child injured by gunfire after high-speed chase, attempted carjacking in Fulton County

ATLANTA - A child was injured by what was likely a ricocheting bullet fragment as police attempted to stop a wanted man from carjacking someone at a Fulton County gas station on Monday, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.  

The child was rushed to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  

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Rashauny Mike Palmer, 25, faced aggravated assault and kidnapping charges from incidents that occurred on Sunday night Palmer, after being handcuffed and placed in a patrol vehicle, escaped in his white Dodge Charger. 

Law enforcement across north Georgia was asked to keep an eye out for Palmer, who was considered armed and dangerous. 

A Douglas County Sheriff's Office deputy later spotted the Dodge Charger on Interstate 20 East and attempted to pull Palmer over. He led that deputy on a high-speed chase into Fulton County. Despite the deputy's efforts, including a PIT maneuver, Palmer continued to flee until his vehicle crashed into a tractor-trailer at the Fulton Industrial Boulevard exit.  

Palmer then fled to a gas station in the 4300 block of Fulton Industrial Boulevard where he tried carjacking a vehicle.  

Officer-involved shooting at Fulton County gas station

Palmer attempted to carjack a BMW at a nearby BP gas station. Deputies, who had been pursuing Palmer, attempted to intervene. At some point, the GBI says those deputies opened fire towards the BMW, which had two adults and a child inside, who was in the backseat. 

The child was struck by a bullet fragment.  

FOX 5 crews saw a car with bullet holes, evidence markers, and a Douglas County Sheriff's Office vehicle with front-end damage. FOX 5 also observed another car nearby with visible damage. 

Palmer was apprehended by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and faces a myriad of charges across several jurisdictions. These include obstruction of law enforcement, attempt to commit murder, battery, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, kidnapping, escape, and possession of weapons during the commission of crimes.  

In addition to local charges, the GBI has charged Palmer with second-degree hijacking a motor vehicle, cruelty to children, and obstruction.  

The GBI's independent investigation is continuing, and upon completion, the case file will be forwarded to the Fulton County District Attorney's Office for review.