Stone Mountain Park shooting: Man fires shots at peak, shoots self during police confrontation
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. - Officers with the DeKalb County Police Department joined the Stone Mountain Police and the Stone Mountain Park Police following a report of a shooting at the park on Thursday.
Stone Mountain Park shooting
What we know:
A man is dead after reportedly firing several rounds on top of Stone Mountain on Thursday afternoon.
According to John Bankhead of the Stone Mountain Park Police Department, officers say sometime between 4 and 5 p.m., hikers alerted park police to a report of about a half-dozen shots being fired and ricochets.
"They felt like they were being shot at; we just don’t know," Bankhead said.
A massive manhunt on top of the mountain ensued. The park was shut down to prevent the man from leaving.
"As a result of the manhunt, they were able to spot an individual matching one description," Bankhead said.
It was around 6:30 p.m. The man was on top of the mountain armed with a semi-automatic pistol. Park police ordered the man to stand down, but instead, Bankhead said, he climbed the fence and got a few yards away from it.
"And then he asked the officer, 'Are you going to shoot me?' The officer said, 'No.' At that moment, he put a gun to his head and shot himself," Bankhead said
No other injuries were reported.
Bankhead added that there were several personal effects in the man's backpack as well as extra magazines for his gun.
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A police officer uses crime scene tape to rope off an area of Stone Mountain Park on Jan. 16, 2025.
Was someone else arrested at the park?
What we don't know:
The man's motive is unclear. "The only person who knows the motive is now deceased," Bankhead said.
It is also unclear if anyone else was involved. "That part of it is ongoing, to see if anybody else might have been involved, if there are any other issues that might have occurred that led to the shooting," Bankhead said.
Police have also not commented on a man who was seen being led away in handcuffs.
GBI asked to handle Stone Mountain shooting investigation
What's next:
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been asked to handle the investigation.
Stone Mountain hikers react to shooting
What they're saying:
A frequent hiker at Stone Mountain Park spoke with FOX 5's Billy Heath and said a DeKalb County police officer told her there was a shooting on the mountain before heading up one of the trails.
"So, I went to hike the hike-up trail, and I was coming down. There's a drive up you can come to, and they had… I saw a fire truck and a cop, and the cop approached me with his AR and asked me if I had gunshots. I said no. And he said there have been a shooting and that I needed to. Go as the other cops showed up and they took up off the up the trail," said hiker Katie Rogers, who added she goes to the park all the time and never expected anything like this to happen.
Bankhead said it was fortunate that it was not that crowded on top of the mountain on Thursday due to the cold weather and the time of day.
Previous Stone Mountain shooting
Local perspective:
Bankhead said the park is safe but recalled that the last incident took place nearly 20 years ago. Anita Redmon, who worked as an attendant at the west gate of Stone Mountain Park, was shot to death during an attempted robbery on July 16, 2005. Redmon’s killer remains at large, but there is a $55,000 reward being offered through the GBI for information leading to an arrest.
"These incidents, they just don’t happen out here," Bankhead said. "This is new for the park; a shooting on top of the mountain has... has never occurred before."

A photo of Anita Redmon next to a sketch of a man believed to have shot and killed her at the west gate of Stone Mountain Park on July 16, 2025
Stone Mountain history
The backstory:
Stone Mountain, a massive granite dome located near Atlanta, is one of the largest exposed granite formations in the world. Rising 825 feet above the surrounding area, the mountain is a significant geological feature formed over 300 million years ago.
The site is best known for the Confederate Memorial Carving, the largest bas-relief sculpture globally, depicting Confederate leaders Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson. Completed in 1972, the carving has been a focal point of controversy due to its Confederate ties.
Stone Mountain Park, encompassing 3,200 acres, is a major tourist destination offering hiking trails, a scenic railroad, and a cable car to the summit. The park also hosts events and a popular laser light show.
The mountain's Confederate imagery has sparked ongoing debates about its place in modern society, with discussions about recontextualizing the site to reflect a more inclusive history. Efforts continue to balance historical preservation with educational initiatives.
The Source: The Stone Mountain Police Department provided the details for this article. This story is breaking. Check back for details. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com.