Police chase ends on I-285 after person allegedly points gun at officers

Suspected arrested after shooting at police, chase down highway

A police chase ended on Interstate 285 in DeKalb County, Georgia after a suspect shot at a police officer, according to DeKalb police. The chase started when the suspect, identified as Ahmad Sulaiman, 19, of Clarkston, pointed his gun at an officer and drove away when they pulled out their gun, police said. Sulaiman was stopped on the highway and taken to the hospital.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A suspect is in custody after a police crash and an officer-involved shooting that shut down part of Interstate 285 Tuesday afternoon.

How the chase started

What we know:

Officials said DeKalb police officers responded to the 4000 block of Memorial Drive around 1:20 p.m. Tuesday to reports of a man flashing a gun and threatening people in a parking lot. Officers said the suspect, identified as 19-year-old Ahmad Sulaiman, pointed the gun at them when they arrived. Sulaiman drove off after the officer pulled their gun on them, DeKalb police said. The car he drove away in was allegedly stolen. 

Officer-involved shooting and chase ends

What we know:

Sulaiman hit multiple other vehicles, including an Avondale Estate police car, while running from police, officers said. Additional DeKalb police, Georgia State Patrol, Avondale Estates Police officers and DeKalb County Sheriff's deputies responded to the chase. Sulaiman shot at an Avondale Estates police officer, according to DeKalb police, and they shot back. Sulaiman nor the officer were shot, according to the GBI. 

A DeKalb police officer used a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver to stop the driver on I-285 westbound, police said. Sulaiman was arrested and taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The officer who performed the PIT was also taken to the hospital, but has since been released, according to the GBI.  

I-285 was closed at I-675 for part of Tuesday afternoon after the police chase ended, according to officials. The interstate was fully reopened a few hours after it closed.

Interstate shutdown 

Dig deeper:

A FOX 5 reporter drove through the area right after the chase ended and saw several police officers pointing guns at a car on the highway.

A DeKalb police officer was injured in a crash on their way to the scene. She was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. 

Charges to come

What's next:

DeKalb police will handle all criminal charges that Sulaiman will face. Officials said they would release a list of official charges at a later date. 

Records show that Sulaiman  is in custody at the DeKalb County Jail charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer for a felony offense.

The GBI is investigating the Avondale Estates officer-involved shooting.

Avondale Estates Police discuss chase

What they're saying:

Avondale Estates Police Chief spoke to FOX 5 following the chase.

"I can confirm one of our sergeants was involved in the incident with the DeKalb County police," Chief Harry Hess, Avondale Estates Police, said. "During the pursuit, the suspect fired a firearm towards the officer. The officer returned fire."

Chief Hess said the officer is fine, but now off the streets as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation handles the shooting investigation.

"He's been placed on paid administrative leave per policy and standard protocol for an officer-involved shooting," Hess said.

Chief Hess applauded the partnership between the several agencies that responded Tuesday. 

"It's been a little hectic, a busy day, but we got through," Chief Hess said. "We work great as a team, and with the assistance of DeKalb Police and the other agencies that assisted during this incident, we greatly appreciate all their help."