Six Flags Over Georgia Stormed by 'Unruly' Crowd, Police Shooting Outside

National Correspondent

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One person was shot by police outside of Six Flags Over Georgia after a huge brawl broke out on the park's opening day.

The Context:

Cobb County Police said officers responded to the amusement park in Austell at around 6:15 p.m. on Saturday to assist security with an "unruly" crowd in the park.

What We Know:

About 500 to 600 people were "running through the park and fighting," the Cobb County Police Department said in a statement provided to Newsweek.

Videos posted on social media showed young people running through the park, one group kicking someone on the ground and people fleeing in a panic as multiple gunshots go off.

"Cobb County Police and Security were able to follow the crowd out of the park onto Six Flags Parkway near South Service Road," police said.

"As officers followed the crowd out, ensuring they left the property, an unknown number of suspects fired at officers. An officer returned fire, striking one of the suspects."

The suspect, whose name was not released, was provided medical aid at the scene and transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in an unknown condition.

Six Flags Over Georgia confirmed a shooting took place, but said it did not occur on the park's premises.

"It is incredibly disappointing that our community is disrupted at public events throughout the region by groups of underaged youth," Six Flags Over Georgia said in a statement to Fox 5 Atlanta.

"Just like other venues in the area, we are committed to keeping this type of trouble outside our park and off our property. There was police activity involving gunshots; we want to confirm there was no shooting at our property or parking lot. This took place on South Service Road that is not owned or operated by Six Flags. However, we join our community and the Atlanta region in our commitment to safety and security. We won't put up with that type of activity here."

Newsweek has contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Six Flags Over Georgia for further comment via email.

Views:

Some took to social media to share videos of what happened on Saturday, while others complained about the park's security practices.

"Six Flags Over Georgia is NOT safe [right now]," an account called Coasters and Brews wrote on X, formerly Twitter, alongside several videos.

"We went to get one ride in Goliath at the end of the night to be told 'we have to leave the park. It's not safe.' By security. Then when we come out not only do we see all these police, we hear gun shots that caused mass panic."

One park-goer, Justin Clayton, criticized management for allowing so many teenagers in the park without supervision.

"I'm so glad I called 911 to get the real police to help because yalls 'security' LAUGHED in our face when we seen the fights starting," Clayton wrote on Facebook. "Y'all need to clean house with management and get people who actually take guest safety seriously!!"