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Atlanta, GA

Dramatic Atlanta police chase ends in high-speed crash, 3 children rescued unharmed

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Dramatic Atlanta police chase ends in high-speed crash, 3 children rescued unharmed


Dramatic video released by Atlanta police shows a high-speed chase and crash involving a man with at least 37 previous arrests who ran from officers with three children in an SUV.

It started just after 12:15 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2023, at a gas station along Jonesboro Road SE near Interstate 285. Surveillance video shows how it all began. 

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“A male opened fire at a gas station while multiple people were outside,” said Officer Torez Griffie with the Atlanta Police Department. 

Witnesses at the scene recounted that a man, driving a gray Jeep Cherokee, had fired shots towards a building before hastily fleeing the location. Fortunately, despite several people in the vicinity, no one was injured, and the shots only left damage to the property.

“I saw the vehicle matching the description.” Officer Griffie said. “He was driving erratic, crazy, all over the road.” 

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Officers were able to quickly issue a lookout bulletin for the SUV. Units were able to catch up with the SUV about a block away, in a fast-food drive-thru. 

The driver, later identified as 39-year-old William Burris, ignored the traffic stop. After releasing a passenger from the vehicle, Burris sped off. She was frantic. Police say her children, ages 8, 7 and 4 were still in the vehicle. “She just started hollering and screaming,” Griffie said. 

Griffie said the driver led him and other officers through Atlanta, into Forest Park and back into Atlanta. 

“The driver was driving extremely recklessly, high rates of speed throughout city streets,” Griffie said. 

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The vehicle ended up in the area of 2000 Lakewood Ave. The suspect swerved in front of an officer, contacting the front driver-side of the patrol vehicle and effectively executing a PIT maneuver on himself. The SUV slammed through a utility pole, snapping it into pieces and ended up in a grassy area off the roadway.

“I tried to set up for a PIT maneuver. He maneuvered himself in front of me, trying to avoid the pit maneuver, and he spun out,” Griffie said. 

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Officers discovered the three young children inside the SUV. The children were promptly moved to a place of safety for medical evaluation due to complaints of pain. 

“My heart dropped when I saw those children.” Griffie said. “I just wanted make sure that they were safe.” 

Meanwhile, officers worked to extract Burris from the vehicle.

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Atlanta police say 39-year-old William Burris fired shots at a gas station along Jonesboro Road SE near Interstate 285 in southeast Atlanta on Dec. 20, 2023. (Atlanta Police Department)

Officers, pointing Tasers at Burris, pulled him from the front of the SUV and out of the driver-side door. He was then placed in handcuffs and led away. 

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William Burris, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history totaling 37 previous arrest cycles, was taken into custody. A firearm was recovered from the passenger area of the suspect’s vehicle.

Burris now faces a litany of charges, including fleeing and eluding, driving while license suspended, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies, three counts of kidnapping, three counts of first degree cruelty to children, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second-degree criminal damage to property, and failure to report striking a fixed object.

He initially was taken to the Grady Detention Center for treatment for injuries he received in the crash, but was later booked into the Fulton County Jail.

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Atlanta, GA

Man arrested for knocking kids off bicycles

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Man arrested for knocking kids off bicycles


A man was arrested at a concert last week after he shoved two kids off their bicycles, causing one of them to fall into a fountain, Sandy Springs police said. FOX 5 Atlanta’s Brittany Edney reporting. 

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Atlanta, GA

Same DNA, new address: Muchacho expands to West Midtown

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Same DNA, new address: Muchacho expands to West Midtown


Photo by Luke Beard

When Muchacho first opened along the Atlanta Beltline and Memorial Drive, it became known as a place shaped as much by its surroundings as by its menu. That site, housed in a 100‑year‑old train depot, set the tone for how the brand approaches expansion: start with the bones of a building, then let the space tell the story. The newly opened Muchacho West Midtown follows that same philosophy.

“We like to celebrate unique attributes of each property and work with the palette we’re given,” says founder and owner Michael Lennox. While the original Muchacho is defined by its long, narrow footprint and Spanish tile roof—features reminiscent of its former life as a train depot—the West Midtown location leans into an industrial past rooted in automotive culture: a former Meineke car care shop. Big windows reference former garage doors, while retro racing details appear inside.

Inside Muchacho on the Westside

Photo by Luke Beard

Still, the connective tissue between the two locations is clear. Both spaces draw heavily from Muchacho’s Southern California skate‑and‑surf roots. At Muchacho West Midtown, familiar playfulness appears via a blue‑orange‑yellow racing stripe pattern, a three‑dimensional pegboard gallery wall used to hang art and plants, and vintage Meineke signage. A life‑size cardboard cutout of George Foreman, once the pitchman for Meineke, underscores Lennox’s willingness to lean into humor and nostalgia. “It’s a playful brand,” he says.

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A functional halfpipe for skateboarding anchors the outdoor experience and will double as a performance space for bands and DJs. In about a month, a 4,000‑square‑foot “tropical secret garden” with tall bamboo lining the perimeter will open on the south side of the property. Another 1,500 square feet of patio space wraps the west and north sides, currently welcoming about 80 guests. Altogether, the West Midtown location will accommodate about 215 guests, making it comparable in size to the original, with a little more outdoor space.

Crispy chicken sandwich

Photo by Luke Beard

Muchacho West Midtown opened with the same core menu that made the Beltline location a staple: tacos, breakfast burritos, coffee, cocktails, and beer. Standouts like migas, chilaquiles, carne asada, and al pastor continue to be available. Over time, however, Lennox says each location is expected to develop its own personality, driven by the chefs who have “a pretty wide creative latitude.” Chef Betty Aparicio, formerly of Chido & Padre’s, steers the kitchen on the Westside.

“We want to nurture some immediate familiarity while providing space for some special moments you can only have at each location,” Lennox says.

Margarita

Photo by Luke Beard

One of these special moments will take place April 4 at a grand opening party dubbed MuchachoFest. Expect bands, a fortune teller, a mini skate park in parking lot, food and drink specials, and giveaways. “It’s going to be a fun day in West Midtown,” Lennox says.

A third Muchacho location will debut in the old Revival space in Decatur this summer. In addition, the Electric Hospitality team is bringing Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall to the Westside. Slated to launch in May on 11th Street, the convivial restaurant and bar will feature a 5,000-square-foot courtyard with an airstream bar, stage, and Crepe Myrtles, and a 45-seat island bar inside. Formerly a single-story warehouse from 1950s or ’60s, Ladybird West Midtown will offer the same food and beverages as its Eastside sibling with room for the chef and mixologist to add their unique touches.

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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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