An early morning drive-by shooting in Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood is believed to be gang-related, police said Thursday.
The seven people injured are all expected to survive. One of them was in critical condition. Two are female.
All have criminal records and some have gang affiliations, Maj. Michael O’Connor, commander of the major crimes division, told reporters at a news conference.
It appears they were targeted by another group.
O’Connor said authorities have “several significant leads in the case,” and “we have suspects.”
Atlanta police deputy chief Jeffrey Glazier said the victims were standing on a sidewalk near the intersection of Parkway Drive and North Avenue when a dark-colored sedan and a silver car pulled up about 3 a.m.
Several dozen shots were fired in the exchange.
The shooting occurred in a residential area, near a strip that includes a Family Dollar, fast-food restaurants and a laundromat. But It is also just blocks south of Ponce City Market, a popular upscale shopping and dining development.
When officers got to the scene, they initially found five people with gunshot wounds. They learned a sixth victim was driven in a personal vehicle to WellStar Atlanta Medical Center, according to Glazier. Hours later, a seventh victim was also located at a hospital.
Credit: CHRISTINA MATACOTTA / CHRISTINA.MATACOTTA@AJC.COM
Credit: CHRISTINA MATACOTTA / CHRISTINA.MATACOTTA@AJC.COM
The initial six victims were identified as five men and a woman in their early to mid-30s. Two of them were taken into surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition, Glazier said.
Police said they have identified the cars involved in the shooting.
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