Police: Wife shot, killed husband in Midtown then ‘calmly walked away'

By Mike Morris and Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A long-running domestic dispute ended late Monday night when an Atlanta woman fatally shot her husband, police said.

Arelisha Bridges, 45, was arrested after witnesses said she fired several shots at 26-year-old Anthony Rankins.

Atlanta Police Maj. Keith Meadows said witnesses saw the couple arguing along North Avenue near West Peachtree Street, then reported hearing four or five shots fired around 10:45 p.m.

"We don't know the nature of the argument," Meadows said. "Witnesses said after she shot him, she calmly walked away."

The couple lived in the area and reportedly had ongoing domestic disputes, police said.

Warren Van Nus, who saw the scene from his ninth-floor room in one of Georgia Tech's dorm, said she appeared unaffected after the shooting as everyone around her was in a frightened uproar.

"I saw her walking with the gun in her hand past Goodfellas ... and get in her car in the parking lot," sad Van Nus, who took photos of Bridges being arrested. "There were people running past the Varsity and the MARTA station, and she didn't seem to be in any hurry."

Atlanta police spokesman Curtis Davenport told the AJC that witnesses heard the shooting and flagged down a MARTA police officer.

The MARTA officer saw Bridges getting into her car wearing a nightgown and shower cap,and stopped her on on the North Avenue bridge over the Downtown Connector, Van Nus said.

Bridges was arrested and taken to Atlanta Police headquarters for questioning. Then she was booked into the Fulton County Jail on murder charges.

Police continue to investigate.