Atlanta Police officer grazed in head after suspect opened fire from behind closet door, warrant says

Suspect Alonte Ray fired multiple times at officers as they tried to enter a back room

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Two Atlanta Police officers were injured in a shooting incident on February 7th after responding to reports of shots being fired from an apartment. According to newly released arrest warrants, the officers entered the apartment and encountered 23-year-old Alonte Ray, who then opened fire on them from behind a closet door, grazing one officer in the head and injuring another with debris. The SWAT team was called in and was able to take Ray into custody after deploying tear gas.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the dangers police officers face when responding to calls, as well as the potential for violence to escalate during encounters with armed suspects. It also raises questions about police tactics and procedures for clearing buildings and handling barricaded suspects.

The details

According to the warrants, eight Atlanta Police officers announced themselves as police before entering the apartment unit on Cheshire Bridge Road. They saw shell casings around the apartment and on the balcony. Two officers then went into a back room and began to open a closed closet door, at which point the suspect Alonte Ray fired multiple times through the walls, grazing one officer in the head and injuring another with falling debris. Five officers returned fire before the SWAT team arrived and was able to take Ray into custody after deploying tear gas.

  • Around 8 a.m. on February 7, 2026, officers responded to reports of shots being fired from the apartment.
  • The officers entered the apartment after the owner allowed them access to check for safety.

The players

Alonte Ray

A 23-year-old suspect who opened fire on the officers from behind a closet door.

Atlanta Police Department

The law enforcement agency that responded to the incident and whose officers were injured.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Alonte Ray out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the risks police officers face when responding to calls involving armed suspects, and the need for continued training and tactics to safely resolve such confrontations and protect both officers and the public.