Man injured after chase, shootout with GSP troopers just off I-20
Video shows moments after GSP chase, shooting
Video taken on a witness' phone shows the moments immediately after a chasing involving the Georgia State Patrol and a driver led to gunshots. A man attempted to flee the scene, but the video shows a trooper arresting him. Witnesses say a baby was in the back of one of the cars the fleeing driver struck.
ATLANTA - An attempted traffic stop led to a chase and shooting which ended in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Ramadan Saleem, age 36, of Atlanta, was behind the wheel of the maroon Genesis, which the GBI says was seen around 3 p.m. "driving erratically" on Interstate 20. Troopers with the Georgia State Patrol attempted to pull the vehicle over, but he refused to stop, the GBI says.
The car eventually exited at the Boulevard exit, ran a red light, hit another vehicles, before crashing to a utility pole, the GBI says.
When Saleem got out of the crashed car, the GBI says he fired at the troopers, who returned fire.
Saleem was injured and rushed to an area hospital. His condition was not immediately known, but investigators say he was stable.
The GBI says two guns were found near Saleem.
The incident happened across the street from Atlanta Fire Station 10.
Video taken by a witness shows the immediate aftermath.
"We heard pop, pop, pop and everyone just rushed to the window and saw this car on the side crash into the pole," said Natha J., who witnessed the incident.
It was just second later a second car sideswipes another driver along Glenwood Avenue. Video shows the man behind the wheel of the tan car attempt to leave the scene before troopers arrest him.
"The police had guns drawn. I do believe the man on the hill had a gun," said driver Katelyn Crook.
Fire officials nearby rendered aid to the man before an ambulance arrived at scene. They say there was a baby in the back seat of his car. The child was not injured.
"I was just like, ‘Oh my God, I hope the baby is OK,’" Crook said.
Witnesses who live and work nearby say the intersection was blocked off as investigators worked to gather evidence on scene. Some nearby businesses closed early.
Crook says she’s still shaken up by the incident.
"It’s been 3 hours. I’m still shaken," she said.
Boulevard, just after 10 p.m., reopened to traffic.
No word on what charges Saleem may face.
The GBI has been asked to investigate the use of force by the officer. This is the state agency’s 42nd such investigation this year.