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Atlanta faith coalition to seeks to curb gun violence

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Atlanta faith coalition to seeks to curb gun violence


A coalition of churches and activists have a new plan they say will dramatically reduce gun violence in the metro Atlanta area. 

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Three innocent bystanders were caught in the crossfire of a gun battle at a Decatur Circle K gas station last week. Reverend Darryl Winston says it’s the exact kind of crime that demands action from the community.   

“We are lamenting the fact that the blood of our children are running down the streets of our nation like water from the stream. We’re seeing it here in Atlanta,” Winston said.  

Winston is the head of the Save Our City Coalition. 

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A group of faith leaders and activists working on issues plaguing Metro Atlanta, like gun violence. 

“We want to eliminate this wild, wild west effect where people going about their business have to dodge bullets,” Winston said.  

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That’s why the Coalition plans to unveil a 10-point plan Tuesday to address and prevent gun violence in the Metro. 

Winston says one part of the plan will create ‘safe sites’ at local churches. 

So, violence prevention groups can work directly in communities who need it. 

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“Safe sites will enable us to have command centers where clergy and activists and Cure Violence people will be working in tandem,” Winston said.  

He says using data on gun violence, they want to open safe sites in zip codes that see the most shootings. 

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“To pool resources to provide a working strategy and a solution to impact immediate, short term and long term that will foster the reduction of gun violence in that zip code,” Winston said.  

FOX 5 asked Winston how this plan would be different from other violence prevention programs we’ve seen come and go over the years. 

“Speaking with city leaders, the mayor’s office, I recommended a task force on youth and gun violence, not just for this metro area, but throughout the state. There is no such task force that I’m aware of that currently exists,” Winston said.  

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He says another part of this plan would create a task force, made up of grassroots organizations already on the ground. 

Who will then make recommendations to local Metro governments about how to prevent gun violence? 

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But he says they’ll need those government officials and businesses to provide funding for these initiatives. 

“It’s going to take a buy-in from political leaders. It’s going to take a buy-in from even the business community. We established a peace endowment for the corporate leaders,” Winston said.  

The coalition will unveil the full 10-point peace plan at the Higher Ground Empowerment Center on Tuesday morning. 

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Atlanta, GA

Buckhead apartment building evacuated due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels

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Buckhead apartment building evacuated due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels


A Buckhead apartment building was evacuated for a time late Tuesday night due to a carbon monoxide alarm. 

What we know:

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The incident occurred at an apartment complex in the 2900 block of Pharr Court South. 

According to Atlanta Fire Rescue, firefighters are investigating elevated carbon monoxide levels.

The entire building was evacuated as a precaution. 

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One person was evaluated at the scene for possible carbon monoxide exposure. 

Crews ventilated the building while they looked for the source.

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Firefighters say they were able to finally locate the source and contain it.

Once readings were back to a safe level, residents were allowed back inside the apartments.

What we don’t know:

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It remains unclear how many residents were displaced by the evacuation. 

The Source: The details in this article come from the Atlanta Fire Rescue.

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Atlanta, GA

2 arrested in deadly drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Atlanta girl, police say

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2 arrested in deadly drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Atlanta girl, police say


Two suspects in a shooting that left a 7-year-old Atlanta girl dead and her mother injured are now in custody nearly a week after the violence, police say.

The shooting happened around 9:45 p.m. on Feb. 24 at a home on the 2200 block of Tiger Flowers Drive NW.

Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute between one of the victim’s family members and the gunman over the phone. Thirty minutes after the argument, the suspect came back and fired shots into the home, police said.

Officers responding to the scene found a 44-year-old woman and her daughter, identified as 7-year-old Zoe Price, shot. Medics rushed the pair to a local hospital, but Price died from her injuries.

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Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the department’s homicide unit secured an arrest warrant for 19-year-old Preston Smith two days after the shooting. Smith turned himself in to the Fulton County Jail on March 2.

Schierbaum said officers executed a search warrant on Feb. 27 at a home on McDaniel Street. On that day, 17-year-old Steven Richardson, who police described as an “accomplice,” turned himself in to authorities.

Both men are charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, three counts of aggravated assault, second-degree criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and four counts of third-degree cruelty to children. Richardson is also charged with possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 18.

At a press conference to announce the arrests, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens described Price as a bright and compassionate little girl who was “full of energy and full of joy.”

“Her life was cut short in an act of senseless violence, and that loss is not abstract. It is a chair that is going to be missing at the dinner table each night. It is an empty classroom seat next to her friends,” Dickens said.

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The mayor called the arrests “a step forward towards justice” for Price’s family and families across the city.

Dickens said that violence, like the act that took Price’s life, would not be tolerated in Atlanta.



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Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Braves News: Top 30 Prospects, Starting Pitching Depth, More

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Atlanta Braves News: Top 30 Prospects, Starting Pitching Depth, More


On Monday, the Braves were able to earn another Spring Training victory over the Detroit Tigers. It was a game where the starting pitching depth of the Braves was on full display, as Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, and Owen Murphy all threw multiple innings. While it is likely unwise to expect big things from any of these three arms this season, they are a part of the “next man up” group for the Braves if injury again impacts the rotation. Each had a solid effort today, a trend that will hopefully continue.



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