A man was arrested on Wednesday after entering a Publix supermarket in Atlanta with six loaded firearms and body armor, police said. The man, identified by Atlanta police as 22-year-old Rico Marley, was charged on Thursday with five criminal attempts to commit a crime and six times of possession of a firearm while committing or attempting to commit a crime. of certain crimes.
Police did not provide specific evidence that Marley intended to carry out a shooting at the store that day. But the incident took place in the wake of two mass shootings that shocked the nation and sparked widespread calls for arms reform: the shoot in a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, that killed 10 people, and a series of shootings at three spas in the Atlanta area, killing eight.
On Thursday, police released a photo of the weapons Marley was reportedly carrying when he was arrested.
Atlanta Police Department
Atlanta police said on Wednesday that a preliminary investigation revealed that Marley entered the store openly with a rifle and entered a bathroom on Wednesday afternoon. A witness noticed him and alerted a store manager, who then called the police. Police said they responded to the incident shortly after 1:30 pm and “immediately detained” Marley as he exited the bathroom. Medical workers also came to the scene to conduct a mental health assessment.
Marley carried an AR-15-style rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun in a bag, and four pistols under his clothing, according to an incident report released by Atlanta police on Thursday. All six firearms were loaded, and Marley was wearing body armor and a ski mask when held, the report said. Police have not reported any injuries or shots fired.
The person who reported Marley to the Publix manager told police that “he heard clicking noises from the bathroom box” in the store and that “it sounded like someone was loading firearms,” the incident report said. He also claimed to see an AR-15-style rifle “leaning against the wall”.
Publix said in a statement that the location of the Atlantic Station is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.
“We are grateful that there were no injuries and that everyone was able to leave the store safely,” said Publix. The store is currently closed. For additional questions, you can contact the Atlanta Police Department. ‘
Later Wednesday, Atlantic Station – the upscale commercial area where the Publix is located – said it was being closed while authorities were investigating a suspicious package found on the spot. It is not clear whether the package is related to the previous incident.
“We are closely monitoring the situation with APD, and we will reopen as soon as possible,” a spokesperson for Atlantic Station tweeted Wednesday evening. “The safety of the Atlantic Station community is of the utmost importance.”
Firearms permits in Georgia allow people to “legally carry a concealed firearm” in the state, the state’s website said. It’s not clear if Marley was licensed – but in 2019 Publix published joined a growing list from retailers asking customers not to carry guns in their stores, even if it was legal in the state.