Five Morehouse College students, including two members of the basketball team, drove to a Zaxby’s in northeast Atlanta for a late-night food run last week.
It ended up almost costing them their lives.
Atlanta police are investigating after 20 gunshots were fired at the students’ vehicle as they were leaving the restaurant, missing everyone inside.
According to a police incident report obtained by AJC.com, the incident happened just before 10:45 p.m. Wednesday near the Zaxby’s at 425 Ponce de Leon Avenue. The students were in a white Dodge Charger. The car was sprayed with bullets as they pulled onto Parkway Drive, the report said. Police are searching for multiple shooters, one of whom stood in the middle of the road to shoot at the vehicle.
Surveillance footage, which has not been released, allegedly shows that shooter and four others speed away from the scene in a black Mercedes SUV.
Two officers were dispatched to a nearby apartment complex on an unrelated call, and they responded to the scene after hearing the gunshots, the report said. When investigators arrived, they found 20 shell casings.
“We have increased patrols in this area, and we had officers that were on scene there, and it didn’t stop this from occurring so we are certainly concerned,” police Sgt. John Chafee told Channel 2 Action News.
Police have not released descriptions of the suspects. It is unclear if the students were the intended targets of the gunfire or if it was a case of mistaken identity.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact police. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
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