Former Mental Patient Kills 1 in Mall Shooting

A smiling gunman who was released from a mental hospital despite alleged homicidal and suicidal tendencies opened fire in the food court of a suburban shopping mall Tuesday, killing one man and wounding four people.

The gunman, identified as James Calvin Brady, 31, started to reload the .38-caliber revolver but then tossed it into a trash can before calmly walking out and surrendering, police said.

“He held up his hands and said, ‘I’m the one you’re looking for,’ ” said police Col. M.F. Ferguson.

Police said Brady was charged with one count of murder and four counts of aggravated assault. He was being held without bond.

A document found in Brady’s pocket said he was released Monday from Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta. The document “said he had homicidal and suicidal tendencies, and suffered from delusions,” Ferguson said.

Marchant Roach, a spokesman for the state Department of Human Resources, which runs the state hospital system, said the department had no comment.

“He just walked in and started shooting,” said Carol Gravdahl, manager of Sweaters Etc. at Perimeter Mall, a few miles north of the city. “His right arm was straight out with a pistol, shooting it off randomly. He was coming around with it until I guess he emptied it--and he was smiling.”

Among the victims was 24-year-old Michael Gregory Music, who died later at Northside Hospital from a chest wound.