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Atlanta firefighters rescue two children trapped 75 feet inside elevator shaft

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Atlanta firefighters rescue two children trapped 75 feet inside elevator shaft


Two Atlanta children are safe after a terrifying ordeal at Peachtree Center left them trapped inside an elevator shaft for hours — prompting a complex rope rescue by the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department’s Special Operations team.

Fire officials say they respond to as many as 2,000 elevator entrapment calls each year, but this one was far from routine.

A trip for lunch turns into a scare

What began as a simple afternoon walk to get lunch quickly turned into panic for 13-year-old Johnny Jones and his 11-year-old cousin, Malai Moore.

The elevator they were riding in abruptly stopped between floors inside the Peachtree Center complex — leaving them stuck with no access from the parking deck or any residential level.

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“It is actually a blind elevator shaft… they had no way to get to them,” said Battalion Chief Lem Mullins.

With no reachable entry point, firefighters first tried calling the elevator company to reset the system. They couldn’t reach anyone for hours.

A complicated rescue from above

Realizing the children couldn’t be accessed from any floor, Fire Rescue Special Operations crews initiated a vertical rescue from the top of the elevator car. Video from inside the shaft shows firefighters Ross and Captain Moss descending toward the trapped children.

“We had to build a rope system to go in at the top of the car… then send a second rescuer down to put the harness on the kids,” Chief Mullins explained.

The elevator was suspended roughly 75 feet above the bottom of the shaft.

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Inside, Johnny and Malai were trying to stay calm — pressing buttons, trying to call for help, and holding onto each other.

“It was scary and I was very terrified because I didn’t know what else would happen,” Malai said.

Johnny admitted two things crossed his mind: “I hope we get out sooner than later… and I hope we don’t die in here.”

“I needed to keep them awake”

Outside the shaft, Johnny’s mother could hear the fear in their voices as she called repeatedly to reassure them help was coming.

“They were hungry, cold, sleepy… I was calling to make sure they stayed awake so when the firefighters came down they would know what was going on,” she said.

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After hours inside the stalled elevator, firefighters successfully lifted both children to safety — cold, shaken, but uninjured.

“I said thank God that it is over,” Johnny said once he reached solid ground.

A reunion — and some celebrating

On Friday, the children were reunited with the firefighters who rescued them. Crews surprised Johnny and Malai with gift bags and a special tour of the firetruck used in the rescue.

Fire officials say specialized rope rescues like this are highly technical but something they train for regularly.

“Special training and teamwork made this rescue seem easy,” firefighters told CBS News Atlanta.

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As for the kids, they’re grateful, relieved — and maybe rethinking their next ride.

Johnny and Malai say they’ll be taking the stairs for a while.



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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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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 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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