A Macy’s Mall of Georgia store employee is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being stabbed by a robbery suspect.

According to police, about 11:20 a.m. today, Friday, Sept. 2, officers received a call regarding a suspected robbery in progress. The suspect, 27-year-old Loganville resident Jose Reyes-Serrato, had entered the store and began smashing jewelry cases using a crowbar or a similar type of object. A store employee attempted to intervene and was stabbed after the suspect produced a large knife. The suspect then fled the store, driving away in a silver pickup truck.

Officers in the area of the mall encountered the suspect at the intersection of Mall of Georgia Boulevard and Buford Drive and attempted unsuccessfully to stop the vehicle. The suspect drove a short distance before exiting the truck and fleeing on foot.

“Seeing that he was a current armed and dangerous presence in the area and a danger to the civilians, people walking around in the area … our officers then did fire, hitting the suspect one time,” GCPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Jennifer Richter said.

The suspect is hospitalized in stable condition.

“Our officers moved decisively to stop the suspect in that moment because this is a high traffic area and Reyes posed an immediate threat to the safety of the public,” Richter added in a news release on the incident.