Atlanta police officer shot in Oakland City released from hospital, suspect arrested

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — An Atlanta police officer shot Monday morning has been released from the hospital.

Officer DeVante Matthews was shot while responding to a call at a home in the 1400 block of Clark Howard Lane near Lee Street in the Oakland City neighborhood around 8:45 a.m.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Matthews was responding to a mental health call, adding that officers have been to the home multiple times.

According to the GBI, officers responded after a 911 caller reported a man with a gun experiencing a mental health crisis. When officers arrived, they entered the home and spoke with the caller in a hallway.

The GBI said 24-year-old Michael Gates then appeared in the hallway holding a gun and fired at officers, injuring Matthews. Officers returned fire, the GBI said.

The 30-year-old officer, who has been with the department since 2019, was shot in his bulletproof vest and arm.

Gates was not injured and was immediately taken into custody, according to the GBI. Atlanta police are investigating an aggravated assault.

“We do want to extend our apologies and hope that everything is okay with that officer,” Gates’ sister-in-law Monique White said.

A woman was found inside the home with a gunshot wound to her leg. The GBI said the woman is a resident of the home. She and Matthews were taken to an area hospital, where they were treated and released. Authorities have not said whether she was struck by gunfire from Gates or officers.

Gov. Brian Kemp took to social media to ask for prayers for the officer.

“We are grateful for his bravery and that of all our law enforcement across the state as they answer the call of duty and put themselves in harm’s way to protect others,” Kemp wrote.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Gates had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and said the incident should be a reminder to take mental health seriously.

“The very officer that’s in here on a stretcher right now, has been to that home multiple times on mental health calls,” Dickens said. “But there was a firearm in that household. So everyone needs to know that mental health is real. Mental illness is real in our community.”

Several ramps on I-20 were blocked to traffic as the officer was being transported to Grady Hospital at around 9:15 a.m.

Return to Atlanta News First for updates on this breaking news story.