Two teenagers and a woman were killed after gunfire erupted in three separate locations across DeKalb County from Wednesday night through Thursday morning, according to authorities.
At least one person has been arrested in connection to one of the shootings.
The three victims were found miles apart at an apartment, in a residential neighborhood and in a wooded area in the county. The incidents, which do not appear to be related, increased DeKalb’s homicide count this year to 24, police spokesperson Lt. Shane Smith confirmed Thursday.
The first shooting happened just before 8 p.m. Wednesday in the 5800 block of Par Three Court in Stonecrest. A shooting call took officers to the neighborhood that sits below Pole Bridge Creek and is a stone’s throw from I-20.
At the scene, officers found an 18-year-old dead from a gunshot wound. He was identified as Nicholas Campbell by the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Investigators believe the teen knew the suspects involved, but no arrests have been made, police said.
Then, around 9:40 p.m., police responded to reports of gunfire in the 2100 block of Bedevere Circle, located near I-285 and Glenwood Road. Officers arrived at an apartment and found a 20-year-old woman dead with a gunshot wound. Police identified her as Destiny Carson.
“Initial information indicates the victim knew the suspect,” police said. However, they did not say if they’ve determined a motive for the shooting.
The suspect was later identified as 19-year-old Marquis Simmons, who turned himself in to the DeKalb County jail, officials said. He faces a charge of murder.
The next morning, at about 3:15 a.m., officers responded to reports of a person stabbed in the 2600 block of Brookgate Crossing near Ellenwood. At the scene, they found a 30-year-old man with a “superficial” wound to the chest, police said.
The victim was evaluated by EMS and refused to be taken to a hospital. He later returned to the scene. Police said the suspect was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault and remains in custody.
“We have no additional information at this time,” Smith said.
The third fatal shooting happened about six hours later near Stone Mountain. At 9:30 a.m., officers were called to the 1000 block of North Hairston Road, where they found a teenager dead in the woodline. The victim was identified as 17-year-old James Smith, police said.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Officials said that investigation revealed that the victim had a dispute with unknown people, which likely led to his death. No arrests have been made.
Authorities did not release any additional details on the four cases. Anyone with more information is asked to contact DeKalb police.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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