Return to Transcripts main page

Breaking News

Suspected Gunman in Construction Crane in Atlanta

Aired June 21, 2001 - 08:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We are keeping our eye on a situation of an alleged gunman in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, perched high above, on a construction crane, in a standoff with police below.

We are joined now by CNN affiliate WSB, reporter Dave Bodden. He is on the ground.

Dave, give us a perspective of where you are in relation to the action in the crane?

DAVE BODDEN, WSB REPORTER: I can tell you that we are less than half a block away from where this is all going down right now. As a matter of fact, so are all of the construction worker, who have all been evacuated from this BellSouth facility that's going up.

Let's take you right up to crane where all this is going on right now. You can see that very tall construction crane up there, several stories high.

We understand that when the crane operator went to work this morning, he got to top of that crane, getting ready to enter the booth, when he was met by a man who allegedly has a gun up there. Obviously, the crane operator got out of there as fast as he could, came back down to the ground.

Police were alerted. They have been here on the scene ever since, which is about an hour and a half right now. We understand that SWAT teams are suiting up at this moment; they are getting prepared for something going on up there. They have not confirmed whether or not this person has a gun, but obviously, they are making sure that they are prepared if that is the case.

Once again, they have evacuated all the construction workers from that scene, and we are about a half block away, just waiting.

This story continues to develop.

Carol, back to you.

LIN: Dave, do you know if the police are in communication now with this man?

BODDEN: We understand that the helicopters that have been flying overhead have been in communication or, actually, have seen this man on a cell phone. We understand that the police negotiators here on the scene are also using cell phones, but we have not been able to confirm whether or not the two have been in communication yet. I'm sure that's something they are working on at this moment. Once we get that information, we'll pass it along to you.

LIN: Thank you very much, Dave Bodden, right there, where the action is happening.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com