Crime
Jay Stevens Berger, 70-year-old retired doctor in custody following standoff at Four Seasons Hotel in Midtown Atlanta
A retired ophthalmologist, Dr. Jay Berger, was arrested after a tense standoff with Atlanta police at the Four Seasons Hotel in Midtown Atlanta.
The incident unfolded when Berger, armed with multiple weapons, began firing rounds from his high-rise condominium.
The gunfire posed a significant threat to both law enforcement and civilians in the area.
Atlanta Police Department (APD) officers responded to the scene and attempted to negotiate with Berger, but he refused to cooperate.
The situation escalated, leading to a standoff that lasted several hours.
During the standoff, an APD officer was injured. Both Berger and the injured officer were transported to Grady Hospital for medical treatment.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is conducting an investigation into the use of force by police officers during the incident.
The GBI release continues:
The subject began firing a weapon inside his apartment and into the hallway. As rounds were fired through the walls at SWAT officers, one officer returned fire. One SWAT officer was injured during the incident (possibly by shrapnel). The subject then proceeded onto the balcony of his apartment and began throwing items off the balcony. At some point during the encounter, a SWAT sniper fired at the subject and struck him. SWAT entered the subjectโs apartment and took the subject into custody without further incident.
Christian County, Mo. โ Authorities have identified the suspect accused of fatally shooting a deputy with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office during a traffic stop as Richard Bird.
At the time the Blue Alert was issued, the suspect had not yet been taken into custody.
According to law enforcement officials, the deputy initiated a traffic stop involving a 2001 Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck along State Highway 160 near Highlandville.
During the stop, the suspect allegedly opened fire, fatally wounding the deputy before fleeing the scene.
The suspect was reported to have traveled southbound on Highway 160 following the shooting.
Authorities described the suspect vehicle as a black 2001 Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck equipped with a silver brush guard, black body trim, tinted rear windows, and a three-ball trailer hitch. The vehicle was bearing Missouri license plate 9MG-X36.
A statewide Blue Alert was issued to notify the public and assist in locating the suspect.
Law enforcement officials urged residents not to approach the vehicle or suspect if located, but instead to immediately call 911 and provide detailed information while remaining at a safe distance.
Christian County is situated south of Springfield and north of Branson, an area that sees significant travel due to its proximity to the Ozarks.
Multiple agencies across the region coordinated efforts in response to the alert.
Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting or the status of the investigation.
Law enforcement officials expressed their condolences to the deputyโs family, colleagues, and the community as they continue to pursue justice in the case.