Detectives investigating a shooting near downtown Atlanta that left a 3-year-old boy critically injured have honed in on two cars that may be involved.
Atlanta police are investigating the Wednesday afternoon shooting in the 400 block of Peters Street in southwest Atlanta. Investigators asked for the public’s help late Friday to identify and track down the two vehicles.
Police released photos and videos of a dark Kia Cadenza and a white Kia K5/Optima. According to a news release, the cars were seen on surveillance video driving near the shooting shortly before it happened.
Authorities said the victims spent about 90 minutes inside a barbershop near the scene leading up to the shooting. The suspect vehicles drove around outside and cased the area for about an hour, waiting for the victims to exit the barbershop.
One video showed the white car driving northbound with the dark vehicle following behind. A second video showed the two cars heading southbound, this time with the white Kia trailing the dark-colored one.
When finally left the shop, investigators said both vehicles followed them southbound on Peters Street. The driver of the dark-colored Kia opened fire on the victims’ car as it approached a red light at the intersection of Peters and Chapel streets, police said.
The young victim was in the backseat when a bullet struck him in the head, according to investigators. He remained hospitalized Saturday in critical condition, Channel 2 Action News reported. Police said the shooters were targeting the 3-year-old victim’s father when they pulled alongside the car and began firing.
The dark Kia fled the scene continuing southbound on Peters Street and the white car followed behind.
Detectives from Atlanta’s aggravated assault unit are investigating the shooting. Anyone with information on either vehicles is asked to call the unit at 404-379-4324. 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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