The search continues for a gunman who shot a 2-year-old in the abdomen Wednesday afternoon at a DeKalb Kroger.
Police said the little boy was in stable condition at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. Meanwhile, investigators are still trying to piece together the chain of events that led to the shooting.
According to DeKalb County Police Chief Cedric Alexander, it all started with a mugging outside a Chase Bank branch and culminated with several shots fired in front of the Kroger on Memorial Drive and North Hairston Road.
The robbery suspect’s target appeared to be a good Samaritan who tried to prevent the mugging, Alexander said.
Witness Jamilia Adams, 41, said she saw the two men yelling at each other. Up to 10 gunshots followed.
“It was during that time that the suspect obviously pulled out a weapon (and) fired into a vehicle where the good Samaritan’s 2-year-old child was sitting,” Alexander said.
Inside the Kroger, Betelehem Sheferaw, 19, said she heard the shots, then saw the father carrying the little boy, whose shirt was stained with blood, to the pharmacy. Paramedics arrived and transported the toddler to the hospital.
“He was crying really hard,” said Sheferaw, still shaken by the incident.
Witnesses said they saw the gunman walk in back of the Kroger. He hasn’t been seen since.
Joshua Stanley of Buford was working on the grocery store’s security cameras but said they were functioning at the time of the shooting. He declined to comment on what he may or may not have seen through the monitors.
Police said they are following up leads on a suspect but have released no additional information.
The Kroger remains closed, with much of the parking lot taped off and dozens of officers still on the scene. Several shell casings and an errant pair of flip flops remain in front of the store.
Please return for updates.
—Staff writer Cailin O’Brien contributed to this report.
