As shock permeates East Atlanta Village, police say they are diligently searching for a man who gunned down a resident during a burglary.
Alex Newton, 30, reportedly came home Monday to Alexan EAV apartments on Metropolitan Avenue to find his door kicked in and a man inside.
The two fought, which ended with Newton shot and the suspect on the run, police said.
Atlanta police released surveillance photos of the man Wednesday afternoon in hopes that the public can help identify him.
Newton, an avid outdoorsman who worked for a construction company in Atlanta, was shot multiple times.
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Police called the crime "tragic and unwarranted."
"All of us realize how a tragic crime such as this affects the community," APD spokeswoman Elizabeth Espy said in a news release. "We assure you that we have and will continue to utilize every one of our resources to create a safe environment for our citizens."
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The shooting came only hours after residents met Sunday night to discuss security concerns in the new upscale complex. Residents felt management, which hasn't responded to requests for comment, wasn't properly protecting the complex after recent burglaries.
Newton's death heightened tensions.
“I think it has absolutely destroyed the community,” Alexan EAV resident Ryan Harris told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday. “People want to break their leases. People are talking about lawyers.”
Atlanta police said it "should be noted" the five burglaries that preceded Newton's death all happened on two days, and that officers patrol the area daily.
Newton's family has set up an online fundraiser in hopes of increasing the Crime Stoppers reward. By Wednesday afternoon, more than $6,000 had been raised.
A memorial service for Newton is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in his hometown, Thomson, near Augusta. His obituary is online here.
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