Gunfire erupts near Avondale Estates fireworks show, man arrested
Felon charged after gunfire near Avondale fireworks show
A holiday fireworks celebration turned into a terrifying ordeal Saturday night when suspected celebratory gunfire erupted nearby, sparking a panic and leading to a man's arrest.
AVONDALE ESTATES, Ga. - An Avondale Estates man faces multiple charges after authorities caught him firing gunshots near a local holiday celebration on Saturday night.
What we know:
Law enforcement officers working the City of Avondale Estates' Fourth of July fireworks show at Cobb Stadium heard gunfire coming from a nearby home on Saturday night.
Officers from the Avondale Estates Police Department and the DeKalb County School Police Department immediately rushed to the area.
Authorities identified and arrested 39-year-old Tyler Ladet at his home in the 1200 block of Berkeley Road without any further incidents.
Tyler Ladet booking photo (Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)
Police executed a search warrant at the property, finding two handguns and several shell casings in the backyard.
Ladet was taken to the DeKalb County Jail on charges of reckless conduct and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
What they're saying:
Attendees could hear the gunfire while attending the fireworks show at Cobb Stadium.
Viewer video shared with FOX 5 showed loud popping noises and a large police presence on scene. Helicopters could be seen circling from above.
Many guests were shown rushing away from the area.
One attendee, Italy Corwned, said attendees at the fireworks show heard the gunfire and ran.
"It was a chaotic scene, and I'm glad that everybody got home safe," Corwned added.
The City of Avondale Estates sent FOX 5 Atlanta the following statement:
Saturday night's fireworks were meant to be a celebration for our community, but it was disrupted by dangerous, reckless behavior outside the stadium. Our hearts go out to everyone who attended the event and experienced this frightening situation.
During these types of events, all personnel are keyed in on the threat, as the safety and well-being of those in attendance is always our top priority. Thanks to the swift work of the Avondale Estates Police Department and DeKalb County School District Police, the suspect was apprehended within five minutes.
That kind of rapid response doesn't happen by chance; it's the result of extensive training and preparation. We’re grateful no one was harmed.
As soon as the threat was removed, our staff worked quickly to communicate with the public through announcements by the DJ to reunite families and safely assist attendees as they exited the stadium.
What we don't know:
It remains unclear if any additional suspects are tied to the weapons found on the property.
What's next:
The suspect appeared in court on July 7 and was denied bond by the judge. He will next appear in court for a preliminary hearing.
Tyler Ladet. FOX 5 Atlanta image
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from a press release by Avondale Estates Police Chief Harry Hess and the City of Avondale Estates.