Deion Duwane Patterson gunned down five women in the waiting room of a Northside Hospital medical facility in Midtown Atlanta on May 3, 2023, killing one and critically injuring four others. The 24-year-old former U.S. Coast Guard electrician’s mate had arrived late for a medical appointment with his mother and became agitated before pulling a handgun and opening fire around noon.

Amy St. Pierre, a 38-year-old Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researcher and mother of two, died from a point-blank gunshot wound to the head. The survivors included receptionist Jazzmin Daniel, 25, shot in the chest and abdomen; Lisa Glynn, wounded in the abdomen; Georgette Whitlow, shot in the arm; and Alesha Hollinger, struck in the face. All four required emergency surgery, with three suffering severe injuries.

Patterson fled the Laureate Medical Center on foot, carjacking a white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck left running at a nearby Shell gas station. Surveillance footage and Department of Transportation cameras tracked the stolen vehicle to a parking garage in Cobb County, about 10 miles northwest of the scene. At 7:40 p.m., residents at the Waterford Place apartment complex in Smyrna spotted a man matching his description and called 911, leading to his surrender without incident.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum praised the rapid response, noting technology played a huge role in the capture. Patterson, who served in the Coast Guard from 2018 until early 2023, faced initial charges of murder and four counts of aggravated assault. Prosecutors later added felony murder, four counts of attempted murder, aggravated battery, firearm possession during a felony, theft, and criminal property damage.

Patterson's mother, Minyone Patterson, attributed the attack to his mental instability after Veterans Affairs doctors denied him Ativan for anxiety days earlier. In November 2024, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Eric Dunaway ruled him incompetent to stand trial, citing his inability to recall details or assist in his defense; he was committed for treatment.

On April 16, 2026, Judge Dunaway reversed that decision, declaring Patterson competent and setting his trial for June 1. The ruling came nearly three years after the shooting, which prompted a shelter-in-place order, school lockdowns, and cancellation of appointments at the facility.

Governor Brian Kemp expressed heartbreak and commended law enforcement's swift action at the time. The case highlights ongoing challenges with veteran mental health care and public safety in medical settings.