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Convicted Felon Charged After Shooting Himself Inside Atlanta Airport

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A man was rushed to a hospital Sunday afternoon following an apparent self-inflicted shooting at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, prompting a police response but no disruption to airport operations, authorities said, as reported [1] by Fox News.

The individual was identified by police as Douglas E. Smith, a 59-year-old convicted felon who is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

According to the Atlanta Police Department, Smith sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm during the incident and 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 told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Police said the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. in the pre-security baggage claim area of the South Terminal.

Investigators stated that Smith entered the airport, rode up the escalators, then produced a handgun and “intentionally shot himself in the upper left torso.”

Authorities said nearby witnesses reacted quickly, kicking the firearm away from Smith and alerting law enforcement officers stationed at the airport.

“He’s a convicted felon,” Major D. Wilson of the Atlanta Police Department said during 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 reported that officers immediately secured the scene, recovered the firearm, and cleared the surrounding area. Law enforcement confirmed that no other individuals were injured during the incident.

Smith was transported to a nearby hospital, where authorities said he was alert, conscious, and breathing at the time of transport.

Police stated that Smith is currently in stable condition and will be taken into custody and transported to jail following his release from the hospital.

Airport officials told Fox News Digital that the shooting did not impact airport operations, and flights continued without interruption.

Security procedures in the affected area were temporarily adjusted while police investigated, but normal activity resumed shortly thereafter.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving tens of millions of passengers each year.

Law enforcement agencies maintain a visible presence throughout the airport, particularly in high-traffic areas such as terminals and baggage claim zones.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, and authorities have not released additional details regarding how Smith obtained the firearm or how long he had been in possession of it prior to entering the airport.

Police emphasized that the incident was isolated and posed no continuing threat to travelers or airport staff.