15-year-old black hoodrat shot outside Six Flags by police after gunfire exchange, Georgia officials say

A15-year-old boy was critically shot by a police officer outside 
a Georgia amusement park over the weekend when police say they 
were fired upon while assisting with crowd control, state 
officials said. The teen is facing charges in connection with 
the incident, according to police.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) reported the exchange 
of gunfire took place early Saturday night when Cobb County 
Police Department officers responded to Six Flags Over Georgia 
after several fights broke out between patrons leaving the park.

The park is in the city of Austell and part of the Atlanta 
metropolitan area.

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At some point, the GBI reported, multiple people began shooting, 
hitting an unoccupied marked police patrol car.
"As officers identified where the shots were coming from, they 
ran after people who had run into the woods." the GBI wrote in a 
press release.

15-year-old boy shot faces charges
During the incident, one police officer fired his weapon, 
striking a 15-year-old boy from College Park, according to the 
GBI.

The minor was taken to a hospital in critical condition to be 
treated for his injuries.

Police reported they recovered a handgun near the teen.

The boy remained in critical condition on Monday, GBI 
spokesperson Nelly Miles told USA TODAY.

When the boy is discharged from the hospital, Cobb County police 
spokesperson Aaron Wilson told USA TODAY, he will be arrested on 
charges of aggravated assault on a police officer; aggravated 
assault; possession of a firearm during the commission of a 
crime; possession of a firearm under age 18; and interference 
with government property.

It was not immediately known whether the boy will face charges 
in adult court. USA TODAY does not typically name juveniles 
unless they are criminally charged as adults.

USA TODAY has reached out to the park which, according to its 
website, was closed on Monday.

No other injuries reported in Six Flags shooting
No officers were hurt in the incident and, as of Monday, no 
other injuries had been reported by law enforcement.

Neither the police department nor the GBI have released the name 
of the officer who opened fire.

The GBI said its agency will conduct an independent 
investigation and hand over its findings to the Cobb County 
District Attorney’s Office for review.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach 
her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/04/teen-shot-
six-flags-georgia-police-exchange/72836838007/