What happened at the Midtown Four Seasons Hotel?

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

Officials identified the suspect as J. Stevens Berger, 70, who they said was staying in the residential section of the Four Seasons, not in the hotel’s short-term units.

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

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

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

“I heard ten shots. I went outside, saw everything on camera – man throwing sofas, shooting – Very chaotic, very random. This is Atlanta. This is not a real place,” said Khalil Hagans.

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

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

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

Timeline of the Four Seasons Hotel SWAT

2:30 p.m.: SKYFOX 5 flew over the scene as several hotel guests could be seen looking over balconies at patrol cars swarming the street.

3:30 p.m.: Atlanta police asked all members of the media to clear the scene south of 14th Street NE.

3:52 p.m.: Atlanta police set up a shelter in place and asked citizens to stay out of the area.

“Citizens within sight of the Four Seasons Hotel are advised to avoid any windows and rooms overlooking the area,” a department spokesperson posted on X.

4:00 p.m.: FOX 5 Atlanta obtained photos showing what appeared to be the suspect with his hands up before throwing furniture out of a hotel window.

4:35 p.m.: The shelter at the scene was lifted and the suspect was taken into custody, according to Atlanta police.

Citizens are still asked to avoid the area.

5:15 p.m.: Atlanta police held a joint news conference with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to provide more information about the incident.

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

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum

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 speak to police and allegedly had access to several weapons, including knives.

Police believe at least 15 shots were fired throughout the incident.

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