Teen, 17, fatally shot while shopping at SW Atlanta complex, police say
A 17-year-old was gunned down Saturday while shopping at a southwest Atlanta complex, police said.
The shooting, which happened shortly after noon at the West Ridge Shopping Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive near Lynhurst Drive, was contained to the parking lot, Lt. Christopher Butler with Atlanta police told reporters at the scene.
Police tape was strung up in front of a restaurant, but the complex also includes a Family Dollar, Wayfield Foods and other stores.
Butler said police located the victim and pronounced him dead at the scene.
“What we know is that he was shopping in the complex here, and there was some kind of escalating disputes,” Butler stated.
“Some words were exchanged between some other individuals, and we’re working to identify those males right now.”
There are several cameras at the complex that police are hopeful caught the incident.
The teen, who has not been publicly identified, appears to be the only victim. Butler said, given the holiday weekend and uptick in shopping, he was thankful there were no other victims.
“Just unfortunate that another individual has to lose his life to some gunfire,” Butler said.
No information was provided on an alleged gunman.
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