ATLANTA — Atlanta Police said an officer was shot on Old Hapeville Rd Monday afternoon. Deputy Chief Darin Schierbaum spoke at a press conference at 3:30 p.m. saying officers went to arrest a person wanted in connection to an armed robbery and aggravated assault shortly after 1 p.m.
He said that's when an officer got into a fight with the person they were there to arrest, who is also known to have ties to a gang. The suspect then took out a weapon and shot the officer multiple times. Police said the suspect took off to a nearby apartment. He was taken into custody a short time later without further incident, according to APD.
The suspect was later identified as Christian Eppinger, 22, following a social media post by APD. The officer was taken to Grady Hospital for treatment and is reportedly in stable condition but seriously injured, Schierbaum said.
"He will have a long road of recovery," Schierbaum said. "We are going after individuals who are robbing citizens of this city, who are shooting citizens of this city, and murdering in this city."
Witnesses in the area described the frightening encounter.
"I was terrified," one woman said. "Especially all the police just flying through the apartment. And then I have a child in the car also."
The GBI was requested to investigate the shooting. APD has not yet released the identity of the officer injured. This is a developing story, we'll continue to update as we learn more.