Gunman kills woman at Old Fourth Ward apartment before shooting self at nearby park, police say

ATLANTA - Police believe a man shot and killed a woman at an Old Fourth Ward highrise apartment building before turning the gun on himself in a nearby park.

Atlanta Police Department commanders provided details of the preliminary investigation on Thursday afternoon.

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

"Anger at a time that a handgun is introduced leads to tragedy," interim Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum

Atlanta Police Department officers were at crime scenes on Merritts Avenue and North Avenue.

At 1:26 p.m., officers responded to a report of a man shooting himself. Police found a man in his late 60s dead with a weapon in his lap. Police said the preliminary investigation indicates the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot.

Police said officers found a woman dead when responding to a separate call at Cosby Spears Highrise apartment complex. Police believe the man found dead in the park killed the woman at the highrise.

"I have investigators at both locations to put that together," Deputy Chief Charles Hampton Jr. said.

Schierbaum said anger is hard for a police department to predict and highlighted the department's efforts in stopping gang violence and organized crime.

"This police department is making an appeal, when you're angry, put the weapons down," Schierbaum said. "Walk away from the weapons."

This is the second shooting involving a property overseen by Columbia Residential the Atlanta Housing Authority on Thursday.

Around 10:30 a.m., Atlanta police officers were called out to the Columbia Commons located at 2524 Martin Luther King Jr Drive SW.

Police said officers discovered the body of a man. Investigators said the man had been shot several times.

The man, who police said was in his 40s, has not been named by police.

A motive is still under investigation.

Police spent the afternoon combing over the scene and speaking to several people about the incident.

Columbia Residential and Atlanta Housing released a joint statement Thursday evening that reads

"Columbia Residential employees and Atlanta Housing staff are saddened and devastated by the deadly violence that occurred Thursday at Columbia Commons and Cosby Spear Highrise communities.

"A shooting at Columbia Commons that occurred between two buildings on the property resulted in the fatality of a maintenance staff member. The leasing office staff was sent home for the day and the Atlanta Police Department is conducting an investigation related to the incident.  Later Thursday afternoon, a separate shooting was reported at Cosby Spear Highrise resulting in the death of the community manager. The alleged assailant left the property and reportedly took his own life.

"Representatives of Columbia Residential and Atlanta Housing have enhanced security at both properties and are providing grief counseling to residents and employees.  Atlanta Housing staff will remain on site to answer any questions our residents may have of us, and at some future date we will gather our residents to provide further updates and address concerns."

Both cases are still under investigation.