ATLANTA — A man deliberately shot himself inside the bustling Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday afternoon, authorities confirmed, prompting a swift police and medical response. The incident near the South Terminal’s baggage claim area did not disrupt flights or injure other travelers, officials said.
Man Shoots Himself in Airport Terminal
At around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, a 59-year-old man carried a handgun into the airport and walked up to the upper-level baggage claim when he pulled out the weapon and fired a shot into his left shoulder area, according to police reports.
Witnesses described a sudden loud noise near the escalators before shocked passengers realized what had happened. One bystander acted quickly and kicked the firearm away from the wounded man before law enforcement arrived.
Police Response and Person Hospitalized
Airport police and first responders reached the scene within moments, secured the weapon, and assisted the man. He was conscious, breathing, and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of his self-inflicted wound, officials said.
Airport representatives stressed that operations continued normally throughout the response and no other travelers were hurt.
Charges and Ongoing Investigation
After he is released from medical care, authorities plan to book the man into Clayton County Jail where he will face multiple criminal counts. Charges include unlawful firearm possession by a felon, carrying a weapon during a felony, and reckless conduct, according to police statements.
Officials have not publicly disclosed a motive, and the investigation into the circumstances leading up to the shooting is ongoing.
