ATLANTA — A MARTA police sergeant shot her ex-boyfriend on Monday night following reports from local authorities that their argument turned into a violent attack.
Around 9 p.m., officers received a call for help from a sergeant at the Five Points MARTA police station, MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher said.
Police said the police sergeant met her ex-boyfriend while she was still working. They agreed to meet on Forsyth Street by the station, where GBI reports say the 38-year-old man assaulted the sergeant.
"In the middle of the argument, a fight ensued, and he began to beat her in her face and hands," Kreher said.
The man allegedly hit the officer, knocking her to the ground, GBI said, adding that he dragged and strangled her while repeatedly landing blows.
"She ended up shooting him," Kreher said, "striking him twice."
At some point, the ex-boyfriend grabbed the sergeant's gun while it was in the holster. Once he let it go, she shot him, GBI said. The sergeant suffered cuts and bruises on her face and on various spots of her body Kreher said.
The ex-boyfriend tried to drive off, but GBI said he crashed by Decatur and Bell Streets not far from where the argument started.
Officers quickly found, arrested and took him to Grady Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, according to authorities. As of Tuesday, he was still in ICU, according to GBI.
As for the officer, GBI said Tuesday she was released from the hospital.
"I believe she's going to make a full recovery," Kreher said.
Kreher said the most shocking part was the man's boldness in his attack.
"That he would instigate a fight like this knowing that, No. 1, she was a police officer, and No. 2, in uniform and on duty," he said. "So we're a little concerned about that and that will be part of the investigation."
Since the sergeant was on duty, the shooting investigation has been handed over to the GBI. Authorities said charges are pending against the man.
This marks the 11th shooting involving an officer that the GBI has been asked to investigate this year.