The mother of the 24-year-old man accused of killing one woman and injuring four others at an Atlanta medical center has revealed that her son was upset with doctors before opening fire.
Suspected shooter Deion Patterson was in the waiting room of a Northside Hospital medical office on Wednesday (May 3) when he allegedly opened fire. Patterson's mom, Minyone Patterson, told Channel 2 Action News that her son was upset that doctors wouldn’t give him Ativan, an anti-anxiety drug.
Patterson, a former Coast Guardsman, was discharged earlier this year for reasons that are unclear, per Action News. He sought treatment from the Atlanta medical facility because he was dissatisfied with the care he was receiving from the Department of Veterans Affairs, his mom said.
Minyone Patterson issued an apology to the victims' families but warned to not "disregard" those with mental illness.
“I’m trying to advocate for my son,” the suspect's mom said, according to CNN affiliate WANF. “Just be careful.”
Following the shooting, the suspect fled the scene in a carjacked vehicle. A manhunt went on for eight hours until he was found at a suburban condo complex and arrested. Patterson is facing one count of murder and four counts of aggravated assault.
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