A gunman who was holding four firefighters hostage outside of Atlanta was killed during a tactical operation, police said Wednesday.

Following a standoff, the Gwinnett County Police Department SWAT team entered the residence where a barricaded gunman was holding four firefighters hostage in Suwanee, Ga.

The gunman had taken five firefighters hostage but allowed one of them to leave to move the fire truck, police said.

As officers entered the home, a small explosion could be heard. Officials later said it was used to distract the suspect. The sound of gunfire followed.

One officer suffered a non life-threatening injury in the exchange, and the four firefighters have "superficial wounds," Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Edwin Ritter said. It is believed the suspect was killed by gunfire, he said.

The firefighters responded to a medical call with one fire truck and an ambulance around 3:41 p.m., police said. They came from a nearby station, officials said, and they were trained as both emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

NBC station WXIA reported that the house where the firefighters were being held hostage was foreclosed on in November and is currently bank-owned.

Ritter said that once the firefighters were taken hostage, the suspect demanded his power, cable and cell phone be turned on.

Suwanee is a suburban community about 35 miles northeast of Atlanta.

John Bazemore / AP

A police officer clears a path for an ambulance after an explosion and gunshots were heard near the scene where a man was holding four firefighters hostage in Suwanee, Ga., on Wednesday.

This story was originally published on Wed Apr 10, 2013 5:25 PM EDT

A majority of Americans are in favor of legalizing the use of marijuana, a national survey finds, a shift in attitude after more than four decades of polling on the issue. 

Fifty-two percent of Americans say the use of marijuana should be made legal, while 45 percent say it should not, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in March among 1,501 adults. People aged 18 to 32 are the most supportive group, but half of baby boomers now favor legalizing marijuana, too. 

The survey shows the acceptance rate has risen 11 points since 2010. The shift is even more dramatic when taking into account a 1969 Gallup survey showing that only 12 percent of Americans favored legalization.

The survey finds that almost half of Americans -- 48 percent -- say they have tried marijuana, up from 38 percent a decade ago. About 12 percent say they have used marijuana in the past year. 

Fewer Americans now perceive marijuana as a gateway drug, and fewer say that smoking marijuana is morally wrong. The survey also shows about 72 percent believe government efforts to enforce marijuana laws cost more than they are worth. In November, Colorado and Washington state voted to approve the recreational use of small amounts of marijuana.

But while more and more Americans are in favor of legalization and fewer perceive marijuana as a dangerous drug, the survey shows about half say they would still feel uncomfortable if people around them were using marijuana.

Police say three people were shot Saturday in a shopping plaza near Pittsburgh, Pa., NBC affiliate WPXI reported. Police are still searching for the gunmen.

The Foot Locker, Villa and Dollar Tree stores at the Edgewood Towne Center shopping plaza were shot up, police said. 

Police told WPXI the two shooters knew each other. One of the shooters was inside a store, while the other one was outside. Police said the two made eye contact and began shooting, hitting bystanders, according to WPXI.

The victims were taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. One of the victims was shot in the torso and is in critical condition, KDKA reported, while the other two sustained less serious wounds.

A SWAT team established a perimeter in search of the two gunmen.