A 16-year-old girl is dead and a 16-year-old boy is injured after gunfire erupted early Sunday outside a southwest Atlanta high school.
Atlanta police responded at around 2:30 a.m. to the shooting at Benjamin E. Mays High School in the Mays neighborhood near I-285. When officers arrived, they found the two teenage victims with gunshot wounds at the end of the exiting driveway of the school, according to a press statement from the school. The gathering of teens was unauthorized by the school, according to the press statement.
The girl, who was in critical condition, was taken to a hospital, where she died from her injuries. She was identified as Bre’Asia Powell by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office. The teenage boy was also taken to a hospital by ambulance and is said to be stable.
“We are always heartbroken when anyone loses their life in our city but especially when it’s a young person the day after school lets out,” Mayor Andre Dickens told reporters during a press conference at the school on Sunday afternoon.
Credit: Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Credit: Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Both victims were rising 11th graders, the mayor said. Bre’Asia was expected to start working for the city of Atlanta Tuesday in its summer youth employment program.
“This young lady was full of life,” he said.
Dickens, who attended Benjamin E. Mays High School as a teenager, called for an end to gun violence following the shooting that hit close to home. He said he spoke to the mothers of both shooting victims.
“Those are phone calls and conversations we don’t like to have, but this morning my heart goes out to both families,” he said.
Details are limited, but Atlanta police said there were “multiple” people who were involved in the shooting. Dickens noted the young people at the gathering came from a variety of school districts and cities in the area.
“We had children from across the metro Atlanta and we’re asking all parents to speak with their children and please contact us,” stated Atlanta police Homicide Commander Lt. Andrew Smith. “(The) Crime Stoppers reward is at $10,000.”
Credit: Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Credit: Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta police said they were asked to investigate the incident at the request of the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department.
Following the shooting, Dickens advised teenagers to make quality decisions about where and who they spend their time with. He also asked parents to stay on top of their child’s whereabouts to keep them safe.
“So we’re calling on parents, calling on young people and we’re calling on the community to continue wrap their arms around our youth today,” the mayor added.
Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring said a crisis team would be on campus Tuesday. “We remain steadfast in doing all we can for our children here in the city of Atlanta,” she said.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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