Teen shot at house party in SE Atlanta, police say

A teenager was shot at a house party in southeast Atlanta's Lakewood Heights neighborhood. Police are investigating the shooting.

A teenager was shot at a house party in southeast Atlanta's Lakewood Heights neighborhood. Police are investigating the shooting.

A 16-year-old boy was shot at a house party in southeast Atlanta just after midnight Sunday, police said.

Atlanta officers were patrolling the Lakewood Heights neighborhood when they heard gunfire. Upon further investigation, they found the teenager lying on the sidewalk with a single gunshot wound to the chest near the 1900 block of Meador Avenue, police said.

The teen was taken to a hospital. He was listed in critical condition but said to be stable, according to police spokesman Capt. Peter Malecki.

The circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation, Malecki said from the scene. Investigators recovered ballistic evidence from the street outside the home and in the front yard, but they could not say for certain where the boy was shot.

“We do know there was a gathering at the home,” he said. “However, when officers did arrive on scene and began treating that male victim, the occupants of that home did leave the area before we had an opportunity to speak with them.”

Anyone with information 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.