A 15-year-old who sustained critical bruises after a Cobb County police officer shot him during a gunfire exchange close to Six Flags Over Georgia on Saturday evening is now being charged in relation with the scene, as stated by Cobb County police.
Chaos at Six Flags Over Georgia
Authorities announced that around 6:15 p.m., a turbulent crowd of almost 500-600 individuals engaged in a brawl inside the park. Law enforcement managed to escort them outside the park gates. Subsequently, an unidentified group initiated gunfire towards Cobb County police officers.
On Monday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) revealed the wounded teenager as Syere Littlefield from College Park, Georgia. Littlefield was transported to Grady Hospital in Atlanta in critical condition, as reported by the GBI.
Six Flags Over Georgia officials issued a statement to Atlanta News First, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring safety both inside and outside the park. They displayed the utilization of advanced security systems, metal detection, a vigilant Public Safety Department, and collaboration with Cobb County Police.
The statement highlighted the expectation for every guest to comply with a strict code of conduct and affirm their unwelcome stance towards those unwilling to comply.
Six Flags clarified that the shooting occurred off-site, expressing intolerance for such activities. They stated by affirming that they won't condone to such behavior on their premises.
As the scene is investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, it remains unclear if others will face charges at this time.
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15-Year-Old Boy Shot by Police Officer
Over the weekend, a 15-year-old boy was critically harmed by a police officer outside a Georgia amusement park when, according to state officials, the police came under gunfire while helping with crowd control. The teen is now facing charges related to the scene, as confirmed by the police.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) detailed that the gunfire exchange occurred early Saturday night as Cobb County Police Department officers responded to Six Flags Over Georgia following multiple alterations among patrons leaving the park. The park is located in Austell, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area.
According to the GBI, the situation heightened when numerous individuals began firing shots, hitting an unfilled marked police patrol car.
"As officers identified where the shots were coming from, they ran after people who had run into the woods," stated the GBI in a press release.
During the scene, a police officer fired their gun, striking a 15-year-old boy from College Park, according to the GBI. The minor was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Police retrieved a handgun near the teen.
As of Monday, the boy is still in critical condition. Once released from the hospital, Cobb County police spokesperson Aaron Wilson informed USA TODAY that the teen would be seized on charges along with aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm under the age of 18, and interference with government property.
It is yet to be determined if the boy will face charges in adult court. No officers were wounded in the scene, and as of Monday, law enforcement had not announced any other injuries.
The park, closed on Monday according to its website, did not give further data. The GBI, pledged to a separate investigation, will give its findings to the Cobb County District Attorney's Office for review. The names of the involved officers have not been exposed by either the police department or the GBI.
