Atlanta breaking news headlines from the AJC

Valedictorian Amir Gilbert hugs his girlfriend Kailah Brown (from left), as his sister, Alaina Roberts, and mother, Yuena Perez, look on during the STRIDE graduation ceremony at the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Decatur. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

He faced felony charges. Now, DeKalb is giving him a second chance.

Fifteen young people celebrated their completion of the STRIDE program, which stands for “Stopping Trends of Repeat Incarceration with Diversion and Education,” on Monday.

Smyrna Police investigate homicide park valley apartments

Woman found dismembered in Smyrna was shot in the head, police say

Nearly a week after a woman’s dismembered body was found at a Smyrna apartment complex, police said Tuesday that an autopsy revealed she had been shot.

Florida sheriff blasts Georgia officials over prisoners’ scams

A Florida sheriff arrested a woman accused of participating in a scam network through Georgia prisons and called for officials to put a stop to the scammers.

3 charged after 15 children found in Marietta 2-bedroom apartment, police say

Three adults are facing felony child cruelty charges after an investigation revealed 15 children living with them in a two-bedroom apartment in Marietta, police said.

The ‘Panda Express’ has arrived! Giant pandas land in Atlanta.

Giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport early Sunday morning, Zoo Atlanta announced.

Teen now charged with murder in Smyrna dismemberment case; victim identified

The teenager who was arrested after a dismembered body was found this week in Smyrna is now charged with murder amid new discoveries in the case, police say.

15 year old shot and killed on Dunning Street on Friday September 25th

15-year-old killed in ‘isolated’ shooting in SE Atlanta, police say

A 15-year-old was fatally shot Friday evening in an “isolated incident” in southeast Atlanta, police say.

Smyrna Homicide investigation into the death Shintia Mosley

DNA testing ongoing after dismembered body found in Smyrna, police say

No one has been charged in the killing of a woman whose dismembered body was found in Smyrna, police said, though a teen arrested is considered a “person of interest."

Dekalb County officials hold a press conference addressing youth violence, school safety and the need for coordinated prevention and intervention.

UPDATE

After a fight, gunfire left 2 boys dead in DeKalb. A teen is now charged.

An 18-year-old was arrested Tuesday, accused in a shooting that left two boys dead and two women injured in DeKalb County days earlier, police say.

UPDATE

Police find dismembered body at Smyrna apartments; teen charged

Police swarmed a Smyrna apartment complex hours after officials said they discovered a woman’s dismembered body and arrested an 18-year-old.

UPDATE

2 arrested after contractor killed outside Norfolk Southern facility in Cobb

Two men were arrested Thursday after a contractor with Norfolk Southern was shot and killed last week at the company’s facility in Austell, officials say.