A man was arrested on Wednesday after entering a Publix supermarket in Atlanta carrying six firearms and wearing body armor, police said. The man, whom the Atlanta police identified as Rico Marley, 22, was charged Thursday with five counts of attempted crime and six counts of possession of a firearm while committing or attempting to commit certain crimes.
The police did not provide specific evidence that Marley planned to carry out a shootout at the store that day. But the incident occurred in the wake of two mass shootings that shook the nation and generated widespread calls for weapons reform: the shooting in a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, which killed 10 people, it is a series of shootings at three spas in the Atlanta area that killed eight.
On Thursday, police released a photo of the guns that Marley allegedly carried when he was arrested.
Atlanta Police Department
Atlanta police said on Wednesday that a preliminary investigation revealed that Marley entered the store on Wednesday afternoon openly carrying a rifle and entered a bathroom. A witness noticed him and alerted the store manager, who then called the police. Police said they responded to the incident shortly after 1:30 pm and “immediately detained” Marley when he came out of the bathroom. Emergency medical attendants also arrived at the scene to conduct a mental health assessment.
Marley was carrying an AR-15 rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun in a bag, and four revolvers under his clothing, according to an incident report released Thursday by Atlanta police. All six firearms were loaded and Marley was wearing armor and a ski mask when he was arrested, the report said. The police reported no injuries or shots.
The individual who reported Marley to the Publix manager told police that “he heard sounds of clicks coming from the bathroom stall” in the store and that “it looked like someone was carrying firearms,” according to the incident report. He also claimed to have seen an AR-15 style rifle “leaning against the wall”.
Publix said in a statement that its location at Atlantic Station is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.
“We are grateful that there were no injuries and everyone was able to leave the store safely,” said Publix. “The store is currently closed. Additional questions should be directed to the Atlanta Police Department.”
Later on Wednesday, Atlantic Station – the upscale shopping area where Publix is located – said it was closing down while authorities were investigating a suspicious package found there. It is not clear whether the package is linked to the previous incident.
“We are closely monitoring the situation with APD and will reopen as soon as possible,” tweeted a spokesman for Atlantic Station on Wednesday night. “The safety of the Atlantic Station community is of the utmost importance.”
Firearm licenses in Georgia allow people to “legally carry a hidden firearm” in the state, according to the state’s website. It is not clear whether Marley had a license – but in 2019, Publix joined a growing list from retailers who asked customers not to carry weapons inside their stores, even if it was legally permitted in the state.