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 at a Department of Veterans Affairs clinic on Tuesday. The incident, which occurred around 1:30 p.m., resulted in at least one person being airlifted to the hospital.
The local police department issued a statement on its Facebook page confirming that officers confronted the suspected shooter, who was subsequently shot during the confrontation.
Efforts to contact the Pickens County VA clinic by phone met with multiple recordings, and no one answered at the time of the incident.
This outpatient clinic in Jasper opened in summer 2020, providing essential services including primary care, specialty health services, laboratory work, telehealth consultations, and mental health care to veterans, according to the clinic’s official website.
Jasper, home to about 5,000 residents, is located approximately 60 miles north of Atlanta and is recognized as Georgia’s 'First Mountain City' as the Appalachian Mountains become visible.
Photographs from local sources like the Pickens Progress depicted a substantial police presence at the scene, with multiple law enforcement officials in tactical vests near a strip mall area.
This clinic was created to enhance accessibility for veterans, ensuring they receive the high-quality health care they deserve closer to home, as expressed by officials during its grand opening announcement.
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Reporting by Martin from Kennesaw, Georgia.
