Shooting Suspect Back in Police Custody

A suspect being held for questioning in connection with a shooting at Clark Atlanta University who escaped police custody Wednesday was back in custody Thursday.

Atlanta police officials said that the suspect broke shackles around securing his ankles to a hook on the floor, disabled the lock of the holding room door, went down a back elevator and over a barbed-wire fence to escape.

APD officials said the holding room is on the third floor of the new police CID building, where the detectives do their interviews.

Police said they are processing still images from the room's surveillance video to share with the public.

Authorities said Clark Atlanta University Public Safety officers responded to a call regarding suspicious persons with possible weapons on a neighborhood street a few blocks away from the campus at approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday.

When officers arrived, said investigators, they reported see two armed men involved in some kind of a verbal altercation. The officers ordered the men to drop their weapons. When they did not comply, investigators said, the officers felt threatened and fired shots.

One man was injured and transported to Grady Hospital. No CAU officer was hurt.

The university is working closely with the Atlanta Police Department, which is taking the lead in conducting a full investigation.

University officials said the officers will be placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.