Man arrested, charged with murder in double shooting in Atlanta
An Atlanta man has been arrested after police accused him in a shooting that left a man dead and a woman injured last month.
James McClendon, 45, is charged with felony murder in the death of Vernon Harper Jr., according to Atlanta police.
Harper, 30, of Atlanta, was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds inside of a home in the 2100 block of Lang Street about 6:30 p.m. on May 14, according to a police report. Harper was at the home visiting a friend, Atlanta police homicide Detective Jeffrey Churchill said.
“One of the males in the house produced a firearm and shot him several times after an argument,” Churchill said in a statement.
Police previously said a woman was also found inside the home with a gunshot wound to her leg. She was stable when she was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, police said.
It is not clear how police connected McClendon to the fatal shooting, but authorities said warrants were issued for his arrest May 19. He was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service on Wednesday and booked into the Fulton County Jail.
In addition to felony murder, McClendon is charged with possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. It is not clear if police intend to file charges connected to the woman’s injuries.
About the Author
Asia Simone Burns is a watchdog reporter for the AJC. Burns was formerly an intern in AJC’s newsroom and now writes about crime. She is a graduate of Samford University and has previously reported for NPR and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR member station.
