Midtown Four Seasons Hotel armed, barricaded suspect arrested

What happened at the Midtown Four Seasons Hotel?

ATLANTA – Atlanta police and SWAT apprehended a barricaded suspect at the Four Seasons Hotel in Midtown where multiple shots were fired Tuesday afternoon.

Officials identified the suspect as 70-year-old J. Stevens Berger, who they said was staying in the residential area of ​​the Four Seasons, not in the short-term units at the hotel.

They said he fired at least three different types of weapons and may have been armed with more weapons, including knives. A security perimeter was quickly established, closing the surrounding streets at the following intersections:

• 14th Street NE at W Peachtree Street NE
• 14th Street NE at Crescent Avenue NE
• 13th Street NE at W Peachtree Street NE
• 13th Street NE at Crescent Avenue NE
• 13th Street NE at Peachtree Walk NE

FOX 5 Atlanta spoke with witnesses who said the incident felt like something out of the video game “Grand Theft Auto.”

“We heard ten shots. We walked outside and had everything on camera – the guy throwing couches, shooting – Very chaotic, very random. This is Atlanta. This is not a real place,” Khalil Hagans said.

Another witness said police prevented them from going anywhere because of the active shooter.

“So we looked up, and we tried to look for him, and we saw him. We looked at him for about five seconds and next thing you know ‘boom, boom, boom’ he starts shooting again. So it was like, we got behind this dived and just looked at him,” said Jordan Hall. “It was like we were in the middle of a movie.”

Leah, an employee in Midtown, said she was stuck in her office until the man was arrested.

Four Seasons Hotel SWAT timeline

2:30 PM: SKYFOX 5 flew over the scene as some hotel guests peeked over their balconies and watched patrol cars cruise the street.

3:30 PM: Atlanta Police asked all members of the media to clear the scene south of 14th Street NE.

3:52 PM: Atlanta police have set up a shelter and asked citizens to stay away from the area.

“Citizens within sight of the Four Seasons Hotel are advised to avoid windows and rooms that overlook the surrounding area,” a department spokesperson wrote on X.

4:00 PM: FOX 5 Atlanta received photos showing what appeared to be the suspect with his hands up before throwing furniture out the hotel window.

4:35 PM: According to Atlanta Police, the shelter in place was disbanded and the suspect was reportedly apprehended.

Citizens are still asked to avoid the area.

5:15 PM: Atlanta Police held a joint press conference with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to provide more information about the incident.

Atlanta police believe at least three weapons were fired from the suspect’s 33rd floor balcony. One Atlanta police officer was injured with non-life-threatening injuries.

At least two other officers returned fire.

J. Stevens Berger, 70, was identified as the suspect. He was arrested and taken into custody after surrendering and throwing a gun from the balcony.

Police Chief Darin Schierbaum confirmed that Berger was suffering from a mental health crisis and had an altercation with a hotel employee. Berger reportedly did not want to talk to police and may have had access to more weapons, including knives.

Police believe at least fifteen shots were fired during the incident.

Multiple charges are expected to be filed against Berger, including aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.