Man killed, Children’s Healthcare building hit in I-85 shooting in DeKalb
A shooting on I-85 in DeKalb County on Thursday morning left one man dead, bullets strewn on the interstate and a nearby Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta building caught in the crossfire.
The victim, identified Friday as 48-year-old Dagamy Dembel, was found alone in his car in the northbound lanes between North Druid Hills and Clairmont roads, according to DeKalb police. It’s still unclear what led to the shooting, and investigators said no suspects have been identified in the case.
A Georgia Department of Transportation operator discovered the Gwinnett County man’s vehicle about 4:45 a.m., but initially thought he was a stranded motorist, DeKalb police spokesman Sgt. B. Danner said.
“He pulls out on him, sees something that’s not right, he calls for what he thinks is a medical emergency,” Danner told reporters at the scene.
When emergency medical officials arrived, they discovered that Dembel had a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Danner said.
Investigators blocked the northbound lanes for an investigation. Police found numerous shell casings and determined several shots had been fired, Danner said.
At least one bullet hit a glass window on a CHOA support center on North Druid Hills Road, just feet from the interstate, officials said. The window was to a conference room that police determined was not occupied at the time of the shooting.
“The DeKalb County Police Department is leading the investigation that occurred on I-85 North this morning,” a CHOA spokeswoman said in a statement. “All questions related to the incident and the investigation should be directed to DeKalb County Police.”
Investigators opened a regular lane and HOV lane shortly before 9:30 a.m. and then opened the remaining lanes about 10 a.m.
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Asia Simone Burns is a breaking news reporter for the AJC. Burns, who was formerly an intern in AJC’s newsroom, now writes about crime, traffic and weather. She is a graduate of Samford University and has previously reported for NPR and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR member station.
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