Opening day at Six Flags Over Georgia took a dark turn on Saturday evening when amusement ended in chaos. A police involved shooting left one teen hospitalized and local law enforcement on a manhunt for multiple suspects. The incident occurred just off the park’s property.
Cobb County police responded to a call from Six Flags Over Georgia security reporting a large and unruly crowd of 500 to 600 people causing disturbances inside the park, prompting officials to seek assistance from local law enforcement.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has taken charge of the case and has revealed that a handgun was recovered, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing inquiry. The bureau said an unoccupied Cobb Police patrol car was hit. In response, the police returned fire, resulting in one person being injured. The wounded individual was later identified as a 15-year-old, currently in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital. “As officers identified where the shots were coming from, they ran after people who had run into the woods,” the GBI said.
The situation continued to escalate when the crowd migrated to a service road near the theme park. Multiple fights continued to break out in the crowd with the chaos reaching its peak as multiple individuals opened fire. Video footage captured by witnesses outside the park revealed the intensity of the situation. Teens were seen running through the park, engaging in physical altercations and a chilling audio recording captured the sound of multiple gunshots, sending panic through the crowd.
Six Flags Over Georgia issued a digital statement addressing the incident. “Our goal is to provide safe, fun entertainment. We employ state of the art security systems and metal detection, maintain a robust and vigilant Public Safety Department, and have strong support from Cobb County Police who are present both inside and outside the park. Every guest is expected to follow our strict code of conduct and anyone unwilling to follow that code of conduct is unwelcome.”
When the teen is discharged from the hospital, Cobb County police spokesperson Aaron Wilson said in a press conference, the teen 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.
This incident follows a pattern of disruptive behavior during public events in the region involving groups of underage individuals. The park, in collaboration with law enforcement, is determined to keep such incidents outside their premises. Six Flags Over Georgia, an iconic amusement park, now faces the aftermath of an opening day marred by unexpected violence.
