A tragic shooting in southwest Atlanta has claimed the lives of two young boys and left another one injured.
At around 12:40 a.m., police responded to a call from an apartment complex on Sparks Street SW near Peeples Street SW in the Oakland City neighborhood.
Upon arrival, officers found one 13-year-old boy dead at the scene. The other 13-year-old and an 11-year-old were rushed to the hospital, where the second 13-year-old succumbed to his injuries. The 11-year-old is currently stable, according to police.
FOX 5 Atlanta spoke with a cousin of one of the deceased 13-year-olds. With her mother’s permission, she shared some touching memories of the young boy:
“He loved to ride bikes and be outside. He and his friends would ride bikes all around the neighborhood, go to the park, and play basketball all the time,” the cousin said.
She also mentioned that her cousin was set to start 8th grade at Sylvan Hills Middle School, and tragically, today would have been his 14th birthday.
At this time, no one has been arrested for the shooting and police have not released any information about a possible motive or suspect.
“I have been in communication with the Atlanta Police Department, the school social worker, community representatives, and the City of Atlanta’s Office of Violence Reduction to ensure that we are doing everything possible to support those affected by this senseless act of violence. We are working collaboratively to provide resources and assistance to the victims’ families, as well as to the broader community that this event has deeply shaken.
“The safety and well-being of our residents, especially our young people, are paramount, and this tragic incident underscores the urgent need to address the root causes of gun violence in our communities.
“The City of Atlanta is committed to working tirelessly to implement effective violence reduction strategies, increase community engagement, and provide the necessary support to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.”
Dozier urged anyone with information to come forward and assist law enforcement in the investigation.
On Tuesday evening, family and friends gathered at the apartment complex for a balloon release and vigil.
The Atlanta Police Department’s Homicide Unit is now offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the deadly shooting.
