15-year-old shot outside Six Flags by police after gunfire exchange, Georgia officials say

A 15-year-old boy was critically shot by a police officer outside a Georgia amusement park over the weekend when police say they were fired upon while assisting with crowd control, state officials said. The teen is facing charges in connection with the incident, according to police.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) reported the exchange of gunfire took place early Saturday night when Cobb County Police Department officers responded to Six Flags Over Georgia after several fights broke out between patrons leaving the park.

The park is in the city of Austell and part of the Atlanta metropolitan area.

At some point, the GBI reported, multiple people began shooting, hitting an unoccupied marked police patrol car.

"As officers identified where the shots were coming from, they ran after people who had run into the woods." the GBI wrote in a press release.

15-year-old boy shot faces charges

During the incident, one police officer fired his weapon, striking a 15-year-old boy from College Park, according to the GBI.

The minor was taken to a hospital in critical condition to be treated for his injuries.

Police reported they recovered a handgun near the teen.

The boy remained in critical condition on Monday, GBI spokesperson Nelly Miles told USA TODAY.

When the boy is discharged from the hospital, Cobb County police spokesperson Aaron Wilson told USA TODAY, he will be arrested on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer; aggravated assault; possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime; possession of a firearm under age 18; and interference with government property.

It was not immediately known whether the boy will face charges in adult court. USA TODAY does not typically name juveniles unless they are criminally charged as adults.

USA TODAY has reached out to the park which, according to its website, was closed on Monday.

No other injuries reported in Six Flags shooting

No officers were hurt in the incident and, as of Monday, no other injuries had been reported by law enforcement.

Neither the police department nor the GBI have released the name of the officer who opened fire.

The GBI said its agency will conduct an independent investigation and hand over its findings to the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office for review. 

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.