Atlanta, GA
Community gathers to mourn tragic loss of Tamanika Woods, slain at Atlanta McDonald’s
ATLANTA – Hundreds gathered Friday evening in southwest Atlanta to honor the life of Tamanika Woods.
She was shot and killed inside a McDonald’s on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard on Wednesday.
Atlanta Police say 19-year-old T’Niya Evans pulled the trigger after an argument at the fast-food chain escalated.
A judge denied Evans bond Friday.
Woods’ father, Ephraim Marshall, said it was senseless.
“She lost her life for nothing, absolutely nothing…a simple argument got out of hand and now my daughter is no longer with us,” Marshall said.
At one point, Atlanta Police officers had to redirect traffic because of the sheer number of people who gathered in the shopping center parking lot across from the McDonald’s where Woods was killed.
Balloons filled the sky above Atlanta’s West End neighborhood as the crowd released blue and silver balloons in her honor.
Family members and friends also shared remembrances of her.
“We love everyone for coming out and celebrating this life. This is a loving, caring individual,” Marshall said.
“I feel like the world went silent as soon as I found out,” said Wood’s cousin Brianna Moody.
She said her cousin had a presence that was felt in every room she walked into.
And there’s a good reason so many people gathered to celebrate her life.
“When I feel alone in the world, I can call Nini (Woods). But you see, I’m saying it like it’s special to me. It’s not special to me. She was that person to everybody she came in contact with. If you have known her for a day, she was going to make you feel like you were together for a lifetime,” Moody said.
But Marshall says, along with his daughter’s remembrance, he wants everyone to understand that this could’ve easily been avoided.
“Those young and old, put the guns down. You can solve a situation without a weapon. Control your emotions. I’m tired of seeing my brothers and sisters going to prison for 10, 20, 30, 40 years because they can’t control their emotions. Get your emotions in check,” he said.
Woods leaves behind four children ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers.
Her family says they will be taking care of them.
Atlanta, GA
17-year-old shot in foot on Christmas Eve, Atlanta police say
ATLANTA – A 17-year-old male is recovering after being shot in the foot on Christmas Eve, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
Officers responded to Grady Memorial Hospital around 10:39 p.m. on Dec. 24, after receiving a report of a gunshot victim. The teenager was being treated by medical staff for a gunshot wound to his left foot.
Preliminary information suggests the shooting may have occurred near 609 Thurmond Street NW. Investigators from the department’s Aggravated Assault Unit are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Authorities emphasized that details are subject to change as the investigation continues.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta police officer surprises 12-year-old with Christmas gift for good behavior
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – An Atlanta police officer made a 12-year-old boy’s Christmas a little brighter this year.
On Monday, Officer Sebastian Kertchaval surprised 12-year-old Amir with a PlayStation 5, police said in a social media post.
Police said Kertchaval met Amir and his family over the summer while “responding to a 911 call for an unruly child.”
During that visit, Kertchaval saw that Amir was upset with his mother and grandmother.
“And though tensions were high in their home, Ofc. Kertchaval remained patient with Amir, and took the time to positively connect with Amir and was ultimately able to de-escalate the upset child,” police said.
Since that first meeting, Amir’s grandmother has kept Kertchaval updated on Amir’s “increasingly positive behavior throughout the year.”
After hearing of Amir’s progress, Kertchaval bought Amir a new PlayStation 5 for both Christmas and as a reward for his progress.
“Thank you, Officer Kertchaval, for your dedication to community policing and for being a positive example during this holiday season,” police said.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
Atlanta, GA
Some Metro Atlanta Starbucks employees go on strike amid the holidays
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – You may experience order delays if you are headed to a Starbucks on Christmas Eve. Some workers in Metro Atlanta are on strike.
Representatives with Starbucks Workers United tell Atlanta News First they feel underpaid and understaffed and are protesting the lack of progress in contract negotiation with the company.
Starbucks union workers in Alpharetta are making their voices heard loud and clear. They allege unfair labor practices.
“When Starbucks workers first started to unionize, they gave non-union workers pay raises and the partners that were unionized didn’t get that until later and so they’re owed back pay,” said Danielle Stolton, Shift supervisor at the Alpharetta store.
Stolton said she has been a part of the bargaining process.
“Personally, last year was the worst year,” she said. “I had a mental breakdown, actually.”
Stolton and others planned this one-day strike to stand in solidarity with over 5,000 workers at more than 300 stores that are protesting.
Strikes have been going on in some places since last Friday. Some baristas said they want better pay and better benefits.
“I know baristas in my store personally who are having to choose between gas or groceries so when you see problems like that it’s really hard to not feel some type of way about the fact that Starbucks made 24 billion dollars in profit this year, two percent more than last year and we’re still seeing two percent pay raises,” said Vivek G, a Starbucks employee.
Starbucks Workers United said the company failed to honor a commitment made in February.
In a statement to Atlanta News First, Starbucks said:
“Only around 170 Starbucks stores did not open as planned. With over 10,000 company-operated stores, 98% of our stores and nearly 200,000 green apron partners continuing to operate and serve customers during the holidays,” the coffeechain added.
Some workers feel differently.
“It’s just basic living wages and also again to reiterate is just to have. We’re asking for minimum staffing and realistic expectations and just the ability to run our floors and run our stores in a way that makes the most sense. They say they want to hear us, they say they want to listen but every time we ask for help, we get told no,” Stolton said.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
-
Business1 week ago
Freddie Freeman's World Series walk-off grand slam baseball sells at auction for $1.56 million
-
Technology1 week ago
Meta’s Instagram boss: who posted something matters more in the AI age
-
Technology4 days ago
Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps
-
News5 days ago
Novo Nordisk shares tumble as weight-loss drug trial data disappoints
-
Politics5 days ago
Illegal immigrant sexually abused child in the U.S. after being removed from the country five times
-
Entertainment6 days ago
'It's a little holiday gift': Inside the Weeknd's free Santa Monica show for his biggest fans
-
Lifestyle6 days ago
Think you can't dance? Get up and try these tips in our comic. We dare you!
-
Technology7 days ago
Fox News AI Newsletter: OpenAI responds to Elon Musk's lawsuit