Guard shoots 23-year-old who shot man at Atlanta adult store, police say
Security guard shoots alleged gunman at Atlanta adult store
Police arrested 23-year-old James Jenkins at Northside Hospital after a security guard shot him following an early morning dispute inside Tokyo Valentino in Atlanta.
ATLANTA - A 23-year-old man is recovering and facing aggravated assault charges after he allegedly shot someone during an argument at an Atlanta adult store, prompting a security guard to shoot him, according to police.
Shooting reported at Tokyo Valentino
What we know:
The shooting happened at Tokyo Valentino on Cheshire Bridge Road around 6:11 a.m. on Saturday.
Authorities said a 35-year-old man was taken to the hospital alert and conscious after being shot during an argument with someone he knew.
According to the Atlanta Police Department, the verbal dispute escalated to gunfire.
Security guard steps in
In an update, police said a security guard at the location shot the suspect during the incident. Police later identified the suspect in the intal shooting as 23-year-old James Jenkins, who ran away.
He later arrived at Northside Hospital in a private vehicle. Police said Jenkins was stable, taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault.
The victim is expected to recover.
Store manager reacts to gunfire
What they're saying:
Chris Coleman, the general manager of Tokyo Valentino, expressed shock over the incident occurring at the venue.
"Shocking, it just doesn’t happen at our facility. I was really taken aback by the whole thing. We have a very safe environment," Coleman said.
Coleman explained the chaos that unfolded immediately after the gunfire broke out.
"When bullets went off, people ran, and once people ran, the alleged person that fired the gun, I guess, ran with the crowd. There was no way for our staff to know who was involved," Coleman said.
He credited law enforcement for their quick action following the shooting.
"It was made quickly as well, so I'm really happy APD responded as quickly as they did, apprehended the suspect," Coleman said.
Business reviews screening protocols
According to Coleman, the venue maintains a significant security presence on weekend nights.
"We have six security (guards) on staff on Saturday. On Saturday nights we do have one security designated at our entrance point," Coleman said. "That person did pat down every single person coming into the facility last night, so frankly, it's shocking the gun got in."
In response to the incident, management is considering additional screening measures.
"We might implement a wand system where security can metal detect with a wand," Coleman said.
What we don't know:
The identity of the victim and his current condition were not released.
It's unclear what Jenkins and the victim were arguing about.
Police did not say if they recovered the firearms used in the incident.
The Source: The information in this story comes from a news release from the Atlanta Police Department and an interview with Chris Coleman Tokyo Valentino's general manager.