Man shoots suspect in self-defense after being beaten by stick over food argument

ATLANTA — A fight over food turned violent at a center for people experiencing homelessness in Atlanta on Saturday, according to police.

Atlanta Police officers responded to the Gateway Center at 275 Pryor St. SW just after 4 p.m. after receiving calls of a person shot. When they got there, they found a man who had been shot in each of his arms.

An argument between two men over food escalated into a 32-year-old man finding a large stick where he began to start swinging it at the other man, police said. The suspect then began hitting the man with the stick, when the victim took out a gun and shot the man with the stick several times, according to APD.

Officers said the victim shot the suspect out of self-defense and will not face any charges. The 32-year-old man was arrested and charged. Both men were taken to the hospital to be treated, but were reported to be stable.

The charges against the 32-year-old man are not yet known, although APD’s Aggravated Assault Unit was on scene investigating.