Three men were killed in separate shootings in Atlanta on the eve of Tuesday’s mayoral election, a race dominated by crime concerns.
Amid a surge in violence that produced Atlanta’s deadliest year in more than two decades, crime and police reform have become a top priority for voters and frequent talking points for each of the leading mayoral candidates. Monday night’s killings, which took place over the course of two hours in locations miles apart, bring the city’s homicide count to 137 for the year.
At this point in 2020, Atlanta had recorded 121 homicides on its way to a total of 157 by the end of the year.
Each investigation is still in its initial stages, and no suspects have been identified, Atlanta police Lt. Daniel Genson told Channel 2 Action News from Monday’s third scene. All three appear to be the result of disputes settled with guns, he said.
The first was reported around 7 p.m. at a home on White Oak Street in the Oakland City neighborhood. Witnesses told officers they heard two people arguing before a man was shot, according to police. The victim was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he died. He was identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office as 29-year-old Cavario Major.
Major and the suspect appeared to know one another, a police spokesman said in a statement. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.
Another shooting call at 7:40 p.m. took officers to southeast Atlanta, where a man was found dead in the parking lot of the Forest Cove apartments on New Town Circle, a run-down complex that has been the site of several shootings this year. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as 40-year-old Jeffrey Parks.
“Preliminary indications are the victim was the target of the gunfire and the suspect and victim were familiar with one another,” the spokesman said. “Investigators are working to identify the suspect and determine what led to the shooting.”
The third shooting was reported around 8:20 p.m. at a gated apartment complex on Fulton Street just south of I-20. The victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds inside a stairwell of a building, Genson said.
As in the other two homicides, investigators believe the victim knew his killer and was the intended target. They are still working to identify anyone else involved, according to a preliminary statement. The victim’s name was not released.
“There does not appear to be a connection between any of tonight’s homicides,” the police spokesman said. “They appear to be isolated incidents involving individuals familiar with one another.”
An overwhelming majority of 779 city voters polled by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution last month said crime was the most pressing issue in this year’s election. Nearly 70% believe Atlanta is on the wrong track dealing with crime. Another 61% said there are areas within a mile of their homes where they would be afraid to walk alone at night.
The city is experiencing increases in nearly every category of crime compared to last year, including car thefts, assaults, rapes and homicides, Atlanta police statistics show.
Anyone with information on the latest homicide cases is asked to come forward. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
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