Police seek 4 persons of interest in triple shooting at Atlanta lounge

Officers responded to separate double shooting hours prior
Grady EMS personnel leave the scene of a fatal shooting on West Marietta Street in Atlanta early Saturday, August 13, 2022. One man was pronounced dead at the scene, and Atlanta police are investigating. (Photo: Ben Hendren for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Credit: Ben Hendren

Grady EMS personnel leave the scene of a fatal shooting on West Marietta Street in Atlanta early Saturday, August 13, 2022. One man was pronounced dead at the scene, and Atlanta police are investigating. (Photo: Ben Hendren for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Atlanta police are looking for two men and two women who are considered persons of interest in a shooting that killed one and left two others injured Saturday outside a northwest Atlanta lounge.

Atlanta police Maj. Carlo Peek told reporters from the scene that the shooting happened outside Odyssey Lounge along West Marietta Street after a fight over a vehicle being blocked in the parking lot. When officers arrived about 3:20 a.m. Saturday, one man was found dead in the parking lot, Peek said.

The victim was later identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office as 30-year-old Joseph Smith of Minneapolis.

Another man was found grazed by a bullet to the leg, according to Peek.

Just a few minutes later, officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of Howell Mill Road, where a third victim was found with a gunshot wound to the leg. Peel said they believe the victim went to Howell Mill Road from Odyssey Lounge after the shooting to call for help.

Atlanta fire and Grady EMS personnel move a gunshot victim to the ambulance on Saturday, August 13, 2022. Police said the victim is connected to the shooting at the lounge. (Photo: Ben Hendren for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Ben Hendren

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Credit: Ben Hendren

Atlanta police are searching for four people who may be connected to the triple shooting just outside West Midtown.

The department released surveillance video footage Monday of two men and two women, who investigators deem “persons of interest” in the deadly shooting.

The security footage shows the four pull into the parking lot in a convertible and walk into the lounge. A security guard can be seen grabbing one of the men.

The lounge’s parking lot was shut down for more than five hours Saturday while police investigated. Police have not identified a suspect, but Peek said officers will continue to review camera footage from the lounge in hopes of identifying the shooter. Authorities did not say if those involved in the shooting knew each other.

During what Peek said has “been a busy night,” officers also responded to The Peaks at MLK apartments on the 2400 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive regarding a person shot about 8 p.m. Friday. A man was found at the scene with a gunshot wound in his leg and stomach, police said. The victim was taken to a hospital.

While investigating at that scene, police said they found a second victim who took himself to the hospital after he was shot in both his legs.

Police did not release the condition of either victim and did not provide information on a suspect or motive.

Anyone with information about the Odyssey Lounge shooting is asked to call the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-8477, text information to 274637 or visit the Crime Stoppers website. Tipsters will be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000.

An Atlanta police officer checks a shooting scene on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on Saturday, August 13, 2022. (Photo: Ben Hendren for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Ben Hendren

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Credit: Ben Hendren

Freelance photojournalist Ben Hendren contributed to this article.

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