A 19-year-old was shot to death Monday ahead of the morning rush for breakfast at a Waffle House in DeKalb County, authorities said.

DeKalb police were called to the shooting around 5 a.m. at the restaurant in the 3900 block of Flat Shoals Road. The area is located just south of I-285.

At the scene, officers found the teenager suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. The teen was identified as Bernard Williams by the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office.

In a statement, Waffle House said Williams was a “short-term, former” employee who last worked for the company July 12.

“We are cooperating fully with the investigation and direct all additional questions regarding the specifics of this incident to the police department,” the statement added.

A motive is unclear at this time, and no information was released by police about a suspect.

An investigation is ongoing.

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.

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People join a rally in support for U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees on Tuesday afternoon, April 1, 2025, at the Atlanta headquarters after federal cuts triggered significant layoffs. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

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