A 7-year-old out Christmas shopping with her family hit by a stray bullet. A teen selling water bottles shot over a $10 dispute. A young man shot over a parking space. A great-grandfather killed when a drive-by shooting targeted the wrong house. They were among the 157 homicide cases Atlanta police investigated in 2020, the city’s deadliest in decades.

No corner of the city was spared. Victims included a security guard who’d dress like Spider-Man for kids’ birthday parties, a Tony-nominated actor known for his roles in Spike Lee films and an 8-year-old shot on the Fourth of July.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution submitted open records requests to the Atlanta Police Department and dozens of other agencies around the state. Reporters interviewed public safety leaders, elected officials and grieving family members. Wearing masks and standing at a safe distance, we reported from crime scenes, news conferences, vigils and funerals.

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8/26/17 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Sandra Deal, members of the King family, and Rep. Calvin Smyre,  were on hand for unveiling of the first statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the statehouse grounds, more than three years after Gov. Nathan Deal first announced the project.  During the hour-long ceremony leading to the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the state Capitol on Monday, many speakers, including Gov. Nathan Deal, spoke of King's biography. The statue was unveiled on the anniversary of King's famed "I Have Dream" speech. BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres