JASPER, Ga. (AP) — Police in Jasper, a small town situated at the southern end of the Blue Ridge mountains in Georgia, responded to a shooting on Tuesday at a Department of Veterans Affairs clinic. Reports indicate at least one individual was airlifted to the hospital due to injuries.
Emergency services were dispatched to the VA clinic around 1:30 p.m. Upon arriving, officers located the suspected shooter and engaged with the suspect, who was shot during the confrontation, according to a statement released by the city on their Facebook page.
The clinic, which handles outpatient services such as primary care, mental health, and telehealth among others, was unresponsive to media calls made Tuesday afternoon.
Located roughly 60 miles north of Atlanta, Jasper is recognized as Georgia's “First Mountain City,” with a population knocking near 5,000. Eyewitness accounts and local media images show a significant presence of law enforcement, with more than a dozen officers in tactical vests responding to the scene, particularly around the nearby strip mall.
The VA clinic had been established in the summer of 2020, aimed at enhancing healthcare access for veterans, providing services closer to home. This incident raises further questions about safety and security at veteran healthcare facilities.
Martin reported from Kennesaw, Georgia.
