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Felon in possession shoots self at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Login/Join 
Step by step walk the thousand mile road
Picture of Sig2340
posted
quote:
Foxnews.com: Man rushed to hospital in apparent self-inflicted shooting at Atlanta airport

Police identified the suspect as Douglas E. Smith, a convicted felon barred from possessing a firearm

By Bonny Chu Fox News
Published December 21, 2025 7:31pm EST

Atlanta police responded Sunday afternoon to reports of an apparent self-inflicted shooting that left one person injured at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Authorities identified the individual as Douglas E. Smith, a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Police said the 59-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm.

Smith was later charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and reckless conduct.

"Officers responded to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where they located a male who sustained an apparent gunshot wound," the Atlanta Police Department (APD) told Fox News Digital.

According to the police, Smith entered the airport around 3:30 p.m. in the pre-security baggage claim area of the South Terminal. He reportedly went up the escalators, pulled out a handgun, and "intentionally shot himself in the upper left torso."

Nearby witnesses were able to kick the firearm out of Smith's hand and notify law enforcement.

"He's a convicted felon," Major D. Wilson, of APD, said in a news conference. "Obviously, his conduct was of such a reckless nature, with disregard for the traveling public, for those who are around him."

Police said officers quickly secured the scene, including the firearm and the surrounding area, and confirmed that no other individuals were injured.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and was alert, conscious and breathing at the time of transport, authorities said. Smith is currently in stable condition and will be transported to jail following his release from the hospital, they added.

Airport operations were also not affected, airport authorities told Fox News Digital.


I think one of two things is true:

1. He really hated the idea of dealing with TSA.

2. He really didn't want to visit those relatives.





Nice is overrated

"It's every freedom-loving individual's duty to lie to the government."
Airsoftguy, June 29, 2018
 
Posts: 33884 | Location: Loudoun County, Virginia | Registered: May 17, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
No, not like
Bill Clinton
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Maybe he wanted to go back to prison, weird way to do that though


 
Posts: 6796 | Location: GA | Registered: September 23, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
His Royal Hiney
Picture of Rey HRH
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quote:
Originally posted by BigSwede:
Maybe he wanted to go back to prison, weird way to do that though


Strange story.

I used to work with a guy from Washington state. He said, every winter, he'd do something to get county jail because you get housing, food, and tv.



"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.
 
Posts: 21704 | Location: The Free State of Arizona - Ditat Deus | Registered: March 24, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
thin skin can't win
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quote:
Nearby witnesses were able to kick the firearm out of Smith's hand

Everybody was kung-fu fighting!



You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02

 
Posts: 13532 | Location: Madison, MS | Registered: December 10, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
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quote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:
quote:
Nearby witnesses were able to kick the firearm out of Smith's hand

Everybody was kung-fu fighting!


Dave???




Thus the metric system did not really catch on in the States, unless you count the increasing popularity of the nine-millimeter bullet.
- Dave Barry

"Never go through life saying 'I should have'..." - quote from the 9/11 Boatlift Story (thanks, sdy for posting it)
 
Posts: 3464 | Location: Lewisville TX/ Augusta GA | Registered: July 15, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Savor the limelight
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Terminal illness.
 
Posts: 14378 | Location: SWFL | Registered: October 10, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Drill Here, Drill Now
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posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Rey HRH:
quote:
Originally posted by BigSwede:
Maybe he wanted to go back to prison, weird way to do that though


Strange story.

I used to work with a guy from Washington state. He said, every winter, he'd do something to get county jail because you get housing, food, and tv.
I've been told by ER nurses that pain pill addicts will intentionally injure themselves to get long-term pain pill prescriptions. If the author didn't botch the story (big if considering state of modern "journalism"), he went to a public area with law enforcement present and intentionally shot himself which would likely be successful method of getting a long-term supply of pain pills. Also, most LEOs carry tourniquets and are trained in using them.



Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
 
Posts: 25524 | Location: Northern Suburbs of Houston | Registered: November 14, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Master-at-Arms
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Good.



Foster's, Australian for Bud

 
Posts: 7615 | Location: Stuck in NY, FUAC  | Registered: November 22, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
My other Sig
is a Steyr.
Picture of .38supersig
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Yeah. as if the lines and chaos at Hartsfield-Jackson-Crosby-Stills-Nash airport wasn't bad enough without a shooting.




 
Posts: 10326 | Location: Somewhere looking for ammo that nobody has at a place I haven't been to for a pistol I couldn't live without... | Registered: December 02, 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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