A 70-year-old man, identified as Jay Stevens Berger, who resided full-time at the Four Seasons in Midtown Atlanta, was arrested following a violent incident that led to a lockdown at the luxury hotel. Berger, who lived in the residential section of the hotel, reportedly suffered a mental breakdown before initiating the chaos at the $600-a-night establishment.
The incident began around 10 a.m. on Tuesday when Berger accosted a hotel employee, leading to a police response due to concerns over his mental health. Later in the day, around 4:30 p.m., Berger escalated the situation by firing bullets from his 33rd-floor balcony and throwing furniture onto the street below.
Berger then brandished a firearm at an individual and barricaded himself inside his room, according to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. This action led to the deployment of SWAT teams and the evacuation of nearby floors in the hotel.
The situation intensified as Berger began shooting through his door and off his balcony into the city, leading to a shelter-in-place order for surrounding blocks. Witnesses from a building across from the hotel captured footage of Berger in a state of erratic rage, throwing items off his balcony and firing a handgun randomly, nearly hitting bystanders.
Police reported that Berger was heavily armed, with at least three guns – a pistol, a shotgun, and a rifle – in his room, all of which were fired during the standoff. He also had several knives in his possession. At one point, he even threw a gun from the balcony.
One SWAT officer was injured during the incident but is expected to make a full recovery. Berger, who had a visible bloody wound on his face, was eventually apprehended and transported in an ambulance. He is now facing charges of aggravated assault.