A suspected gunman was arrested following a ‘mental health crisis’ after terrifying footage captured the moment he opened fire from a high-rise balcony at Atlanta’s luxury Four Seasons hotel.
The gunman, named as Jay Steven Berger, 70, was seen with blood across his face as he was taken into custody on a stretcher on Tuesday afternoon, following a tense hours-long standoff with cops.
At a press conference after the shooting, authorities said Berger lives on the 33rd floor apartment at the Four Seasons, and staff were called to his room on Tuesday morning after some kind of mental health episode.
The exact nature of the ‘crisis’ is not clear, however footage from the same moment captured by witnesses across the street showed the shooter throwing furniture off his balcony.
SWAT teams were called and residents were evacuated after staff discovered Berger was allegedly armed, and the footage showed the gunman firing across the street after apparently realizing he was on camera.
Berger allegedly shot from his balcony and through walls, with one officer also sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
The gunman, named as Jay Steven Berger, was seen with blood across his face as he was taken into custody on a stretcher on Tuesday afternoon
A terrifying photo of the masked man on the balcony of Atlanta’s Four Seasons hotel, from where he opened fire on nearby building
This is the moment a masked man hurled items off the balcony of Atlanta’s Four Seasons Hotel on Tuesday afternoon, before opening fire
The unidentified shooter, who was wearing a pale-colored rubber mask, blasted a round of rapid fire towards people filming him from another balcony just as the clip ends
A man is seen being stretchered away after the shooting. It is unclear if he is the shooter
The shots sparked a massive law enforcement response that sent the hotel into lockdown and led to a standoff, which ended as cops arrested the gunman shortly after 4:35pm.
Berger appeared to be carrying an injury and had blood on his face, and officials said he was hospitalized but did not offer details of his condition.
At the press conference after the shooting, police said the incident escalated after the staffer tried to enter Berger’s room, but he refused.
Police sent a heightened response as they understood Berger had firearms in his unit. Officials later said they found three firearms – a shotgun, a rifle, and a handgun – inside the apartment.
In the footage of the shooting unfolding, a man and a woman stood filming the standoff from across the street in their high-rise apartment, with the man at first only throwing furniture off from his balcony.
Things took a dark turn when he whipped out a gun and began firing it towards them. The clip ended rapidly – likely as the people in the apartment ducked for cover, but shots could be heard ricocheting close to them.
Officials said at the press conference that Berger also fired through the walls of his unit and at buildings across the street, but said only one other officer was hit.
Berger was hospitalized following the shooting in stable condition. Authorities did not say at the press conference what they expect to charge him with.
A chair is seen being hurled from the balcony of the 53-story building
A policeman with a rifle is seen on the streets during Tuesday’s shooting at the Atlanta Four Seasons
Authorities have issued a shelter in place order, asking those nearby to avoid any windows and rooms facing the area
A SWAT officer is seen at the Four Seasons during Tuesday afternoon’s shooting at the hotel
Police and SWAT teams rushed to the five-star hotel, which costs upwards of $500-per-night, following reports of a man with a gun on Tuesday afternoon, according to WSBTV.
The gunman was said to have thrown a handgun from the balcony to the sidewalk, however it is unclear if he had any other weapons in the room.
It is also unclear what prompted the shooting and if anyone has been injured or killed.
After the shooting began, cops issued a shelter in place order, asking those nearby to avoid any windows and rooms facing the area.
Reporters on the ground in the Georgia city say they have heard several gunshots coming from the building, which stands 53 floors tall.
Due to the incident several roads surrounding the hotel have been closed off for now while the situation remains ongoing.
Fox5 reported that shortly after 3:30pm all media at the scene were asked to clear the area.
Journalist Cody Alcorn with 11Alive shared footage showing sniper teams in the area, after also reporting shots being fired.
Atlanta News First reported that officers had been responding to a ‘demented person’ call.
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