Atlanta, GA

9-year-old is only witness to Atlanta shooting

Published

6 days ago

June 21, 2024

9-year-old is only witness to Atlanta shooting

Georgia law enforcement is investigating a shooting in Atlanta where the only witness was a child, according to local media reports.

The shooting, which happened on Thursday night on Bent Creek Way in southern Atlanta, left one person with multiple gunshot wounds after two men were seen getting into an argument in an apartment unit. The Atlanta Police Department said the only witness to the crime was a 9-year-old child, reported WSBTV.

The APD was reported by WSBTV to have said that the argument escalated into a fight at around 11:1 p.m., which resulted in one man being shot multiple times, before the attacker ran away. The Atlanta Police Department is reported to still be looking for him.

The shooting victim was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in an ambulance, and is reportedly in a stable condition. Police told local media that he required surgery.

The Georgia State Capitol building in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 9, 2022. Last night a nine-year-old was the only witness to a shooting that left one man hospitalized.

SETH HERALD/AFP via Getty Images

Newsweek contacted the APD for comment outside of normal working hours.

The shooting comes after a similar event at the Peachtree Center food court, where four people were shot before Atlanta police arrived on the scene.

Gun violence has continued to be a significant issue in Atlanta. In 2023, Atlanta’s violent crime rate was 1,092 per 100,000 residents, which was significantly higher than the national average of 398 per 100,000 residents.

Gun restriction legislation is weaker in Georgia than most other states, with gun safety campaigners Everytown ranking it 46th in the U.S. for gun law strength. The state has a “Shoot First” law, which permits the killing of another person in a public area if they pose a serious threat, even if the opportunity to walk away safely is available.

In Georgia, an average of 1,927 people die each year because of guns, making it the state with the 15th highest rate of gun deaths in the U.S. 45 percent of these deaths are homicides, while 52 percent are suicides. Between 2013 and 2022, the rate of gun deaths in the state increased by 56 percent.

Much of this violence is felt by the state’s child population, with guns being the leading cause of death among children and teens across Georgia. An average of 205 children die due to guns every year, with 28 percent of that number being suicide, and 66 percent being homicides. This is roughly equivalent to the same breakdown for children across the U.S., where 63 percent of child deaths by gun are a result of violence.

Gun violence costs the state $23.9 billion a year, or the equivalent of just over $2,200 dollars per person. Over half a billion if this is paid directly by taxpayers.

Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about gun violence in your area? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.

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Atlanta, GA

Man killed overnight on Jett Street, Atlanta police say

Published

6 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Press Room

Man killed overnight on Jett Street, Atlanta police say

article

ATLANTA – Atlanta police say a man was shot and killed in the 600 block of Jett Street in the Bankhead area overnight.

The call was received shortly before 2:30 a.m.

Police say the victim was a man in his 40s.

At this time, there is no information about a possible suspect or motive.

This story is developing. Check back for details. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com.

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Atlanta, GA

Atlanta and Washington give the Southeast Division a 1-2 punch at the top of the NBA draft

Published

13 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Press Room

Atlanta and Washington give the Southeast Division a 1-2 punch at the top of the NBA draft

The Southeast Division controlled the top two selections in the NBA draft, with Atlanta and Washington picking 1-2.

Those were rare spots for those two franchises.

The Hawks won the lottery after having only a 3% chance of landing the top pick. They had picked No. 1 only one other time, in 1975.

Washington had the top pick in 2001 (Kwame Brown) and 2010 (John Wall), but those were the only times in the past half-century the team had selected in the top two.

Elsewhere in the division, the Orlando Magic were also in an unusual spot after making the playoffs this past season. They picked Colorado forward Tristan da Silva at No. 18 — their lowest first-round pick since 2012.

The Hawks and Wizards may have been in close proximity in the draft, but on the court the teams are in very different positions entering this offseason. The Hawks were in the play-in round last season, with Trae Young and Dejounte Murray averaging over 20 points a game. Now they add French teen Zaccharie Risacher to the mix.

The Wizards, meanwhile, lost a franchise-record 67 games, and expectations figure to be low again even after taking French 7-footer Alex Sarr one spot after Risacher.

Atlanta Hawks

Needs: Defensive help at every level.

Who they drafted: Risacher at No. 1.

NBA comparision: Risacher said he and Golden State shooting guard Klay Thompson have “the same game.” Risacher then quickly added Thompson has the advantage of being a veteran while he must improve. Risacher is quick and athletic at 6-foot-9, 215 pounds and should provide both scoring and defensive skills on the wing.

Charlotte Hornets

Needs: The Hornets had plenty of issues across the board last season, none bigger than their defense. Charlotte finished second-to-last in the league in defensive rating. The Hornets also need to add more 3-point shooting and rebounding.

Who they drafted: Forward Tidjane Salaun of France at No. 6.

NBA comparison: Salaun has plenty of length and intensity and reminds some of a more athletic version of Otto Porter Jr. or Jonas Jerebko. The big question will be how he develops as a shooter. Just 18, he played very well at the Basketball Without Borders camp and was named MVP of the 2023 Trophy of the Future tournament, averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. The Hornets passed on UConn center Donovan Clingan to take the 6-9 Salaun.

Miami Heat

Needs: Size

Who they drafted: Indiana center Kel’el Ware at No. 15.

NBA comparision: He might be considered a Myles Turner type, a 7-footer with serious offensive skills, a knack for rim protection and outstanding in the pick-and-roll. Ware also will immediately benefit from playing alongside Heat captain Bam Adebayo, who could get more minutes at power forward if Ware can take center minutes.

Orlando Magic

Needs: Perimeter shooting. The Magic were last in the NBA in 3-point field goals and 24th in 3-point percentage.

Who they drafted: Da Silva at No. 18.

NBA comparison: Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris because of his size, all-around game and maturity.

Washington Wizards

Needs: Washington is only a year into its rebuild, so the Wizards didn’t necessarily have to be picky about fit — but it happened that some of the top players available also had good size, which the team can use after dealing Kristaps Porzingis and Daniel Gafford in the fairly recent past.

Who they drafted: Sarr with the No. 2 pick, Pittsburgh guard Bub Carrington at No. 14 and 6-8 Kyshawn George of Miami at No. 24.

NBA comparison for Sarr: He says he admires Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, although his defensive impact may make him more comparable to Jaren Jackson Jr. initially.

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