Unidentified man found shot, killed in driveway of Buckhead home

The man appeared to be in his mid-40s to early 50s, police Lt. Germain Dearlove told reporters at the scene. A motive in his death remains under investigation.

“Investigators are currently canvassing the scene right now, trying to locate witnesses and also additional technology resources to assist in the investigation,” said Dearlove, who commands the police department’s homicide unit.

They were hopeful home security cameras in the area would shed some light on the predawn killing. Peachtree Battle Avenue was closed west of I-75 for much of the morning while police investigated, and it reopened to traffic at about 10:45 a.m.

Heather Baker was taking her 9-year-old daughter, Imogen, to school when the girl saw the man lying on the ground in the driveway. Baker quickly called 911 and reported it before coming close enough to see the man was shot in the chest.

”I did not touch him but I went near enough to him to determine that he did not appear to be breathing,” she said. “It was clear that he was unresponsive.”

Baker, who is a trauma therapist, said her daughter is strong and resilient and wanted to go to school even after such a harrowing experience. She was disappointed so many others drove by and did not stop to check on the man.

”Apart from the shock and horror of encountering someone who has been mortally wounded, and just the tragedy of gun violence in a neighborhood that seems to be safe, the real tragedy for me is how many cars were just driving by and no one stopped,” she said.

Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com

Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com

Last summer, just around the corner from the Peachtree Battle Avenue home, another seemingly random shooting rattled the Buckhead community. Andrew Worrell and two others were out for some morning exercise on West Wesley Road when a man drove by and fired on the group from his sedan. Worrell was shot twice and treated at Grady Memorial Hospital.

“It seems like some sort of miracle that it didn’t do any major damage,” his wife later told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We feel very grateful.”

The shooting was one of three violent crimes prosecutors believe were committed by the same 22-year-old man over three days in early June 2021. Gaelen Newsom is in jail awaiting trial on multiple charges related to the bizarre spree. His case was placed on judicial hold earlier this year so that Newsom could undergo a psychological evaluation.

Thursday’s shooting brought the city’s homicide count to 129, up from 125 at this point last year. Investigators are asking anyone with information to come forward.

“If neighbors saw anything in and around the time of this incident and they would like to share, we are always willing to see what they have,” Dearlove said.

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.