A shooting at an apartment complex in Atlanta resulted in the deaths of two teenagers and the injuries of many others on Saturday evening, according to authorities.
At 5:09 p.m., Atlanta police officers responded to a report of several people being shot at The Retreat at Greenbriar.
Atlanta Shooting Started BEcause of Social Media Dispute
A 14-year-old child and a 16-year-old boy were declared dead at the scene, Deputy Police Chief Charles Hampton Jr. said at a news conference.
Hampton stated that an 11-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl, and a 15-year-old boy were transported to a local hospital; two of the children had been shot, while the third had been grazed by a bullet.
"It appears that many people were transported to the hospital by private car before police arrived," police said in a press statement. Hampton would to comment on whether or whether any additional wounded parties were sent to the hospital, NBC News reported.
According to Hampton, the incident was precipitated by an "argument on social media." According to an initial inquiry, the gunfire began in a complex apartment and continued outdoors. The injured were discovered inside the flat, whilst the 14- and 16-year-old boys were discovered outside.
A 12-year-old was slain and five kids were injured in a shooting at a famous shopping spot in Atlanta only weeks ago. Mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens released a statement expressing his grief for the families, as per The Independent.
The Fulton County Medical Examiners Office has published the names of the two young boys slain in a gunfight over a social media argument, as described by officials.
The victim was identified as 16-year-old Justin Powell. Powell's relatives submitted a photograph of him to FOX 5. Powell's best buddy Malik Grover was confirmed as the 14-year-old who was fatally shot that night.
Recent Shooting Incident in Atlanta
FOX 5 spoke over the phone with Malik's grandma. She stated that the family is devastated and that this is simply too much for them to handle. For her protection, Justin's relatives spoke to FOX 5 anonymously. She stated that attempts to assist the 16-year-old had failed because he had fallen in with the wrong crowd.
That evening, the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department joined the Atlanta Police Department in investigating the incident. Sunday night, police went to the location and established a command post to make their presence known.
A month prior to this tragedy, two young boys were fatally murdered on the 17th Street Bridge at Atlantic Station before the Thanksgiving holiday. Dickens was one of the first Atlanta authorities to speak out against the violence then afflicting the city's children.
The entire family, she told FOX 5, would miss his smile, hugs, and all the simple things. The police report that the investigation is ongoing and ask anybody with the knowledge to contact Crime Stoppers and leave an anonymous tip.
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