An 18-year-old was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Gwinnett County apartment complex late Sunday night, according to officials.
Gwinnett police were called to the Elliot Norcross complex on Graves Road around 10:45 p.m. and found the victim with a gunshot wound. The Norcross teenager, identified as Andres David Buitrago Castillo by police, died at the scene.
Police said a motive for the shooting is unclear. No other details have been released.
The complex, formerly known as Vida Apartments, is located near Norcross Tucker Road and not far from Jimmy Carter Boulevard. It is among 272 of the metro area’s persistently dangerous complexes, according to an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that looked into serious crimes, lax maintenance and other hazards in Atlanta neighborhoods.
Between 2017 and 2021, there were 156 crimes reported there, including a homicide, 46 aggravated assaults, five rapes and 27 robberies that included two home invasions.
The complex has changed ownership since 2021, and the current owners previously told the AJC they were working with police to address crime and added courtesy patrols. They also planned to add a gate. It is not clear if those changes had been implemented prior to Sunday’s shooting, as the company could not be reached for comment.
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 770-513-5300. 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.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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