Police say a group broke into Perimeter Mall before dawn, stole a mall security vehicle, and led officers on a short chase. Officers shot one suspect during a confrontation; two others ran and are still missing, according to Dunwoody police.

What’s New: Police say the group hit Request Boutique around 3 a.m. and took luxury handbags after using a sledgehammer to get inside the mall and store. As they left, they found an unoccupied mall security vehicle, stole it, and tried to get away.

  • According to Dunwoody police, officers arrived, the suspects fled, and a pursuit ran across the street to 66 Perimeter Center East. Officers say the vehicle then drove at them. Officers fired into the vehicle, which sped off and crashed moments later on Perimeter Center East.

What Police Say Happened Next: The driver ran from the crash. Police say two other people had already bailed out and run sometime after the shots were fired and before the crash. Officers set a perimeter and started a search with a DeKalb County helicopter, K-9 teams, ground units, and the department’s drone.

Around 8:30 a.m., an officer saw a bleeding man come out of the woods near 70 Perimeter Center East, police said. Officers detained him and found a single gunshot wound to his lower abdomen. Dunwoody Police, DeKalb Fire, and AMR gave medical aid, and medics took him to North Fulton Hospital. Police say he was alert, conscious, and in stable condition.

Accountability Check: Three Dunwoody officers fired their weapons, police said. The department placed them on paid leave, which it described as standard procedure. Dunwoody police say they notified the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which responded to investigate the police shooting. The department says it will also run an internal review.

The Big Picture: In Georgia, the state Bureau of Investigation often takes the lead when police shoot someone. Agencies also tend to place involved officers on leave while outside and internal reviews move forward. Those steps aim to add independence and a paper trail of the facts.

What’s Next: The search for the two other suspects continues, police said. The department directed all questions about the police shooting to the GBI’s Public Affairs Office. Dunwoody Police asked media with other questions about the case to contact Sgt. Michael Cheek by email.

The Sources: Dunwoody Police Department press release, Aug. 21, 2025.