Stone Mountain Park was swarmed with police after a shooting was reported

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DeKalb County Police respond to Stone Mountain Park on January 16, 2025. (FOX 5)

STONE MOUNTAIN, Georgia. – Officers from the DeKalb County Police Department joined Stone Mountain Police and Stone Mountain Park Police after a shooting was reported at the park Thursday.

At FOX 5, multiple teams are working to gather more details.

Reports of shootings at Stone Mountain Park

What we know:

A frequent hiker at Stone Mountain Park spoke to FOX 5’s Billy Heath and said a DeKalb County police officer told her there had been shooting on the mountain before she went up one of the trails.

“So I went up the trail and came back down. There’s a driveway you can get to and they had… I saw a fire truck and a cop and the cop came up to me with his AR and asked me if I’d had any shots. And he said that there had been a shooting and that I had to leave because the other police officers showed up and went up the trail, said hiker Katie Rogers, who added she goes to the park all the time and never expected this something like that would happen.

Another witness said he heard shots and ricochet.

SKYFOX 5 spotted someone being led away in handcuffs around 6:20 p.m

One person was led away in handcuffs at Stone Mountain Park on January 16, 2025. (FOX 5)

Police were also seen placing crime scene tape at the entrance to the trails up the mountain.

On January 16, 2025, a police officer cordons off an area in Stone Mountain Park with crime tape.

Is Stone Mountain Park closed?

What we don’t know:

It was not clear whether the park had been closed, but witnesses reported being asked by police to leave the mountain trail.

FOX 5 has not yet independently confirmed to law enforcement that a shooting occurred or whether anyone was shot.

History of Stone Mountain

The backstory:

Stone Mountain, a massive granite dome near Atlanta, is one of the largest exposed granite formations in the world. Rising 825 feet above the surrounding area, the mountain is a significant geological feature that was formed over 300 million years ago.

The site is best known for the Confederate Memorial Carving, the largest bas-relief sculpture in the world, depicting Confederate leaders Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Completed in 1972, the sculpture has been the subject of controversy due to its Confederate ties.

The 3,200-acre Stone Mountain Park is a popular tourist destination and features hiking trails, a scenic railroad route and a cable car to the summit. The park also hosts events and a popular laser light show.

Confederate imagery of the mountain has sparked ongoing debates about its place in modern society, with discussions about recontextualizing the site to reflect a more inclusive history. Efforts continue to balance historic preservation with educational initiatives.