Balloons, flowers and stuffed animals now sit where a man was found shot to death in northwest Atlanta on Wednesday morning.
A large contingent of Atlanta police officers responded to the 800 block of James Jackson Parkway around 7:30 a.m. on a report of a person down. There, they found the man lying on the ground, police said.
It is unclear how long the body had been there, but Lt. Germain Dearlove, commander of the homicide unit, said witnesses told them they heard multiple gunshots around 4 a.m.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as 37-year-old Clemmin Walker-Davis. His family told Channel 2 Action News he was a father of five.
Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute that escalated to gunfire, Dearlove said. He did not provide any other information about the victim or if a possible suspect has been identified.
Investigators were seen cordoning off part of the area with crime scene tape, and a woman fell to the ground as she cried not far from the scene’s perimeter. An officer stood nearby with his arm outstretched to her.
Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
One of Davis’ daughters, Kayla Evans, told Channel 2 he called her recently to tell her he loved her.
“He was a very, very kind-hearted man,” she said. “He did a lot for people, and not even just his family. It could be anybody.”
His sister, Tomeika Zachary, told the news station that he was an “all-around good person — cool, laid back, didn’t cause any problems. They didn’t have to take him out like that.”
Another woman, Vicki Delgado, knew the victim. She said he frequented the area, which included a spot where people who were homeless would congregate and “stay out of harm’s way.”
“He was quiet,” Delgado said. “He didn’t mess with nobody or nothing. That boy didn’t deserve to be killed.”
Davis’ daughter added, “It’s hatred in this world. You got to be safe out here.”
Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
Credit: John Spink / John.Spink@ajc.com
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-(TIPS) 8477 or visit the Crime Stoppers website at atlantapolicefoundation.org. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.