Woman visiting Atlanta killed in shooting at downtown apartment complex

Atlanta police were investigating Wednesday morning at the Dwell ATL apartment complex on Auburn Avenue.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Atlanta police were investigating Wednesday morning at the Dwell ATL apartment complex on Auburn Avenue.

A woman was driven to the nearest children’s hospital after she was shot Wednesday morning at a downtown Atlanta apartment complex, authorities said.

Atlanta police met the victim at Hughes Spalding Hospital and she was rushed into surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital two blocks away, where she later died. Her death is being investigated as a homicide, according to Maj. D’Andrea Price, who commands the police department’s major crimes section.

It is the city’s 60th homicide case so far this year, an increase of more than 50% above last year’s pace.

Investigators believe the woman, identified by her family as Justine Bernard, was shot shortly after 5 a.m. at the Dwell ATL apartments in the 100 block of Auburn Avenue. The complex is located near Georgia State University and markets to college students.

Atlanta police are investigating at the Dwell ATL apartment complex on Auburn Avenue, which is located blocks from Georgia State University.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

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Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

“Homicide investigators will be here for a while,” Price said Wednesday morning from the scene. “We have not determined any suspects at this time. We do know that our victim was visiting from out of town.”

Bernard’s family did not say where the woman was visiting from.

Wednesday's shooting is the city’s 60th homicide case so far this year.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

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Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.

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