Statement Update: Please be advised that our preliminary statement has been updated to include a photograph of the involved officer, Officer Gerald Walker, in an effort to maintain accuracy and to prevent misinformation from circulating on social media regarding this incident.

Previously Released: On October 11, 2025, at approximately 11:35 p.m., an Atlanta Police officer working an extra job responded to a request for assistance from security at 5 Paces Inn, located at 41 Irby Avenue NE, regarding a disruptive patron. The officer encountered the individual attempting to reenter the establishment from the back parking lot (3198 Caines Hill Place). The preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect was in possession of a firearm. Investigators with the GBI were notified and will be leading the investigation. The responding officer was not injured.

Please remember that the information released is limited and keep in mind, as the investigation progresses, the preliminary information could change, as is common with active investigations