Atlanta

Man With 6 Guns, Body Armor Arrested Inside Atlanta Grocery Store, Police Say

Police are still working to determine why he had so many guns inside the store

NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Police arrested a man who walked into an Atlanta grocery store with six guns and body armor on Wednesday, authorities said.

Police were called shortly after 1:30 p.m. to the Atlantic Station Publix where the manager told them an armed man had entered the store and headed straight to the bathroom, police spokesman Officer Anthony Grant said.

A witness told local ABC affiliate WSB-TV that he saw the man with what he described as an AR-15 rifle in the bathroom and "the weapon was leaned up in the stall of the bathroom, and it was not in a case."

Officers saw the man leave the bathroom and quickly held him for questioning. According to police, his weapons included two long guns and four pistols, all of which were concealed.

"At the time of his arrest the suspect had a total of six firearms in his possession," the Atlanta Police Department said Thursday in a statement. 

Earlier reports on Wednesday indicated that he had five guns.

Police identified the man as Rico Marley, 22. He has been booked in Fulton County Jail on 11 charges, including six counts of possession of firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, and five counts of criminal attempt to commit a felony, records show.

Police are still working to determine why he had so many guns inside the store. Investigators said the man is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.

The nation is on heightened alert after two mass shootings in the span of a week.

On Monday, a gunman shot and killed 10 people at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado. The suspect is in custody and has been charged.

Last week, a suspect opened fire at three separate Atlanta-area spas, killing eight people. The suspect is in custody and has been charged.

AP/NBC News
Contact Us