ATLANTA — A Clayton County Police officer is fighting for her life in the hospital after being shot by a woman who they believed was suicidal. That woman then drove to Atlanta where she was shot by an APD officer, officials explained.
It all happened Wednesday night at a home in Clayton County with a suicide call around 11 p.m. in Jonesboro off Newbury Drive. Police said they got three different calls about the woman, who was later identified as 25-year-old Aiyanah Pryor. A final caller said they heard multiple shots fired and that an officer was down in the yard.
Family members who spoke to 11Alive's Dawn White said she was experiencing a mental health crisis.
Marcus Martin, Pryor's brother, said she had just started a new medication for anxiety and depression.
“My mom told me she had just started psychiatry, so they put her on some kind of medicine," Marcus Martin said.
LaShonda Martin, Pryor's sister-in-law, believes the police did not take the mental health crisis seriously.
“The story comes out and it's like, Oh, Aiyanah just went crazy. Start shooting at the cops. Like, no, that's not how it happened," LaShonda Martin said.
The family sent 11Alive security camera video showing officers responding to the home three separate times.
Pryor's sister-in-law said the first time, a male officer came out around 9:48 p.m., but they didn’t feel he understood the gravity of the situation.
“When someone calls you to their place of residence, and says, ‘Hey, my family member isn’t right,’ it should not be dismissed,” LaShonda said.
The family said Clayton County Officer Demika Lloyd and an ambulance responded the second time, but video shows the ambulance leaving around 10:50 p.m. -- after the family said Pryor refused to get inside.
The family said Lloyd then returned by herself after the third 911 call.
“I’m not faulting her [Officer Lloyd], just there should have been some back-up from her," LaShonda said.
The video timestamped at 11:05 p.m. shows the officer rushing Pryor in a yard as Pryor holds something in her hand. Just moments later, Lloyd was shot.
“You saw her with a gun on her waist in the mental state she’s in, but you still jump on her," Marcus said. "They’re rolling in the backyard, you see my sister get up, and she shot.”
According to police, Pryor left the home and began heading northbound on Interstate 75. Police in surrounding jurisdictions were notified of the situation and that's when APD officers spotted the vehicle in southwest Atlanta.
APD officers confronted the woman off Polar Rock Road. They demanded she show her hands, but as an officer approached, authorities said Pryor fired at the officers. Police returned fire and struck her.
"Upon approaching the car, officers gave Pryor verbal commands, including show me your hands," the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a release. "Pryor ignored officers’ commands and pulled a handgun, firing at officers. Officers returned fire, hitting Pryor."
No officers in Atlanta were injured in the shootout, however, the officer in Clayton County, Lloyd, was taken to Grady Hospital and had to undergo surgery. The suspect was taken to Atlanta Medical Center after she was shot.
11Alive spoke with the Clayton County police chief who said Lloyd has been with the department for a year and a half working the overnight shift. He said he is hopeful that she will make a full recovery.
In a Tweet on Thursday morning, Gov. Kemp offered his prayers to the officer.
"Please join Marty, the girls, and me in praying for Officer Lloyd’s safe recovery," he wrote. "We owe officers like her a great debt for their sacrifices to keep our communities safe."
Clayton County Police said they have a social worker to respond to mental health calls, but Pryor's family said the social worker never showed up at their home.
“If you went about the situation in the right way, this never would have happened," Marcus said.
LaShonda Martin said Lloyd showed her sister-in-law compassion and prays for her full recovery.
“We're just going to hope for the best for the officer. I really hope and pray she comes out of this because she does not deserve to be hurt over trying to help," LaShonda said.
11Alive asked Clayton County Police about the family's concerns, but a spokesperson said they're not going to comment about that at this time.
The GBI is now handling the incident. The GBI said this is the 71st police shooting their agency has been asked to investigate this year.
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