A POTENTIAL COPYCAT? ATLANTA COPS STOP SUSPECT WITH FIVE GUNS, BODY ARMOR IN GROCERY STORE

A copycat mass shooting?

Atlanta police say they arrested a man with several guns and body armor in a grocery store. He was stopped before any customers or employees were harmed.  

Officers charged Rico Marley, 22, with five counts of criminal attempted-aggravated assault and six counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. 

Around 1:30 p.m. on March 24, police went to a Publix supermarket for a report of a person armed with guns, according to Atlanta police. When officers arrived, they met with management, who said a man armed with a rifle came into the store. 

Officers found Marley and detained him for questioning. Police found five guns — two long guns and three pistols— as well as ammunition and body armor on Marley. 

The investigation showed Marley came into the store openly carrying a rifle and went into the bathroom. A witness saw Marley and told the management, who called the police. 

EMS was called to the scene and checked Marley’s mental-health status. 

 Atlanta police say the investigation is in the early stages and the details could change as more information is learned. 

The incident happened days after a man in Colorado opened fire inside a grocery store killing 10 people, including a police officer. The incident was the worst mass shooting in America since 2018.