Midtown Shooting: Woman Killed In Atlanta Was CDC Employee

ATLANTA, GA — The woman who died Wednesday in a shooting at a Northside Hospital medical facility on West Peachtree Street in Midtown was identified as an employee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The woman was identified as Amy St. Pierre, 39, her husband confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"CDC is deeply saddened by the unexpected loss of a colleague killed yesterday in the Midtown Atlanta shooting," the agency said in a statement shared on Twitter. "Our hearts are with her family, friends, and colleagues as they remember her and grieve this tragic loss."

The shooting happened around noon in a waiting room at the Midtown building. The accused gunman, 24-year-old Deion Patterson, had an appointment at the facility, according to police.

Four other women were shot and injured in the shooting. The women — aged 25, 39, 56 and 71— were in critical condition Wednesday night.

Dr. Robert Jansen, chief medical officer at Grady Memorial Hospital, shared an update on the condition of the injured victims at a Thursday news conference. He said at least two of the women are alert and conscious and could possibly come out of the intensive care unit Thursday.

"They all have a ways to go," he said.

Jansen said Grady was initially prepared to treat 12 victims, as they were told by police. Treating multiple shooting victims is a "daily occurrence" at Grady and events such as the Midtown shooting are not unusual, he said.

"You can't underestimate how traumatic this is," he said.

Patterson was taken into custody after an hourslong manhunt that put the metro Atlanta area on edge as police said the gunman — who they warned the public not to approach believing him to be armed and dangerous — had fled the scene and was believed to be in Cobb County. Police announced around 8 p.m. that he was taken into custody in an area near Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta.

According to Fulton County Jail records, Patterson is being charged on suspicion of one count of murder and four counts of aggravated assault. He had not been released from jail as of early Thursday morning.

RELATED: Atlanta Shooting: Suspect Arrested After 1 Dead, 4 Injured In Midtown

Channel 2 Action News spoke to Patterson's mother, who told the news channel her son was upset because doctors would not prescribe him an anti-anxiety drug.

Midtown was under a shelter-in-place order as authorities from multiple agencies searched for Patterson.

Those in the area at the time of the shooting were warned to secure their building while anyone else was asked to stay away.

Police say Patterson left the building after the shooting and took an unattended pickup truck that had been left running at a local gas station. The truck was recovered in Cobb County.

RELATED: Midtown Shooting Suspect Arrested After Cobb County Search

Atlanta and Cobb County authorities said modern technology was a significant actor in the arrest of Patterson.

Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer said at a Wednesday night press conference Georgia Department of Transportation cameras helped lead police to a vacant building that was under construction near Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta, where Patterson was apprehended.

"Technology played a huge role, but technology doesn't do any good without people who are determined to capture an individual who would do something like this," VanHoozer said, "And today, we saw where those two things came together in an amazing way. Nobody went home today. Everybody stayed."

CNN reported Patterson joined the U.S. Coast Guard in July 2018 and was discharged in January. He served as an Electrician's Mate Second Class, the outlet reported.

White House officials offered support to Dickens' office, with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying officials are frustrated with recent gun violence.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, a Georgia Democrat, released a statement, urging the community to take precaution. The congressman called gun violence "a senseless, overwhelming epidemic" and advocated for gun safety reform.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, Kemp's office issued the following statement:

"We are heartbroken by today’s tragedy in Midtown Atlanta and join all Georgians in praying for those impacted and their loved ones. We’re also thanking God for the brave local and state law enforcement who responded forcefully and without hesitation. Thanks to their efforts, the shooter is now in custody and will face justice," Kemp said in the statement.

"These heroes demonstrated yet again their professionalism, courage and unwavering dedication to protecting their fellow Georgians. With public safety partners like them on all levels, we remain vigilant against such acts of heartless violence in our communities."

Patch has reached out to the CDC for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.