Deion Patterson, as per his mother, asked for an Ativan at the Northside Hospital before shooting five women, one of whom died. The alleged suspect was caught after an eight-hour-long manhunt. He is in police custody.
Patterson’s mother – Minyone – said that the 24-year-old complained about ‘some messed up medication’ before opening fire in the hospital.
Minyone Patterson is cooperating with the police. “The damn VA gave him some messed up medication, and all he wanted was an Ativan,” she told The Daily Beast in a brief call. She did not want to answer any other questions.
Ativan is a medication used to treat seizure disorders such as epilepsy.
“This medication is used to treat anxiety. Lorazepam belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. This drug works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA),” WebMD states.
The Coast Guard identified Patterson as a guardsman who enlisted in 2018. He was discharged from duty in January 2023. The 24-year-old served as an Electrician’s Mate second class.
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When on the run, Patterson was described as ‘armed and dangerous’. He was wearing dark pants and a gray hoodie. He had a mask on.
One of the victims shot was pronounced dead on the scene. She was 39 years old. Others were aged 25, 39, 56 and 71. Three patients were in critical condition and two were being operated at the Grady Health System, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Jansen said.
Several Twitter users suspected that Patterson was mentally unstable.
“MidTown Atlanta shooter – 24 yr old Deion Patterson who killed 1 & injured 4. Instead of showing empathy for the victims, the extreme far right always waits to see the shooter’s race before commenting. White-mental illness, Non-White Thug, illegal immigrants. ITS THE DAMN GUNS🤬” a Twitter user said.
“Warnock on the Senate floor politicizing the fact that his 2 kid’s school was in lockdown after the shooting. Deion Patterson, the gunman clearly has mental issues. Liberals using a terrible situation to make you emotional about our constitutional right to own guns,” another one added.
