Since Wednesday night, three girls between the ages of 10 and 16 years old have been shot in Atlanta.
And in at least two of the cases, police said the victims were not the intended targets.
The shootings prompted Atlanta police Chief Erika Shields to release a statement Friday morning.
“I am concerned by acts of violence against anyone in the City of Atlanta,” she said in the statement. “But I’m particularly disturbed when those acts of violence are carried out against juveniles, as has been the case this week with the unacceptable and tragic shootings of three girls, ages 15, 14 and 10.”
The latest shooting occurred Thursday night as the 14-year-old girl walked along Memorial Drive near Moreland Avenue in southeast Atlanta with two females.
“They heard shots being fired and the victim realized she had been struck” in the shoulder, Atlanta police Sgt. John Chafee said. “It appears the shooting may have occurred between two passing vehicles and the victim was struck by a stray round.”
Atlanta police said the girl first arrived at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding with the two females before she was taken to CHOA’s Egleston location. Her condition is not known.
The shooting occurred just hours after authorities found a 15-year-old with a chest wound about 5:30 p.m. in the garage of her boyfriend’s southwest Atlanta home, Channel 2 Action News reported. She was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where she later died.
The victim’s boyfriend is being questioned. However, he is not considered a suspect in the deadly shooting, according to the news station.
“We have various stories that we are trying to vet through,” Capt. Reginald Moorman told Channel 2. “We don’t want to hone in on any one particular story until we can verify (it).”
Three guns were inside the Greenleaf Circle home, according to Channel 2.
Earlier, a 10-year-old girl was shot in the leg and buttocks as she watched television in her southwest Atlanta home, police said.
Officers were called to the 2500 block of Susan Lane just before 11 p.m. Wednesday after someone opened fire on the residence, according to Officer Donald Hannah.
She was taken to Egleston, and was stable.
No one has been arrested in any of the shootings.
“Rest assured that our investigators are working diligently to make arrests in these cases,” Shields said. “Our department will not stand idly by while our young people are being killed or hurt.”
She said police have no reason to believe the shootings are related.
“The only common thread in the shootings is the young age and gender of the victims and the unfortunate reality of gun violence,” Shields said.
Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call Crime Stoppers Atlanta. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward up to $2,000, by also contacting Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting crimestoppersatlanta.org.
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