Atlanta, GA
Slain teen remembered for bringing joy, unity to Atlanta neighborhood
Who killed 16-year-old Rodney Thompson?
The shooting of a 16-year-old on Judy Lane in south Atlanta two days ago. The victim’s family has identified him as Rodney Thompson. Community leaders describe Thompson as a teen with a bright future…Who tried to help his community. Now his family wants to know why he was killed.
ATLANTA – The family of a 16-year-old boy, who was shot and killed on Judy Lane in southwest Atlanta two days ago, has identified him as Rodney Thompson.
Community leaders described Thompson as a teen who had a bright future and who tried to help his community.
“He brought laughter, he brought joy, he brought the family together. And they’re going to miss those smiles and those moments,” said Tekesia Shields, founder of Mothers Against Gang Violence.
That’s how she says Rodney Thompson’s grandmother described him.
She and Atlanta City Council member Antonio Lewis met with Thompson’s grandmother and family on Friday.
Shields says his grandmother wanted her to speak with Fox 5 on her behalf.
She says Thompson was living with his grandmother at the home on Judy Lane where he was shot and killed Wednesday night at around 7 p.m.
“Someone came into the home, it wasn’t a break-in. It was someone that he knew, someone that he trusted, that he thought he trusted, that came into his home. They came into the room where he slept and they just took his life… with that being in their home, they really feel unsafe,” Shields said.
Shields says the family has no idea why someone would want to kill him.
Lewis says that’s why he spent time canvassing the area on Friday.
“My job is to get with the police and try to find some real justice. So that’s why I’m out here today… so we’re putting the word out in the community that folks need to turn themselves in because we’re looking for you and these cameras are truly working,” Lewis said.
This loss hits close to home for Lewis. He says he and Thompson got their hair cut at the same barbershop and would often talk.
Lewis says just this week he was working to help Thompson apply for jobs at the barbershop.
“On Monday, we got a haircut together at the same barbershop. Rodney told me he filled out an application for a job at Crystal’s. He told me he was disappointed because he didn’t get the job. While I was there, I grabbed his cell phone, opened it up, and I helped him fill out the application to the ATL Year of the Youth [Summer Youth Employment] program. And that’s a job that we knew he could get,” Lewis said.
Lewis called Thompson a “phoenix,” a life full of potential cut short by violence.
“It hurts… I cry for every young black boy that’s killed, because I knew they deserved a second chance, I knew they deserved to grow old,” Lewis said.
Shields says this family wants the people responsible to do the right thing and give them the justice and peace they deserve.
“The message is to come forward… they definitely want you to come forward. They definitely want to bring peace to the family, and they do not want retaliation in the community,” Shields said.
The family is asking anyone with information to call APD at 404-614-6544.
ATLANTA, Ga. — Cities across North America are gearing up for the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Atlanta set to become a major hub for matches and fan events.
Even for people without tickets to games inside the stadium, Atlanta is preparing to celebrate across the city.
8 years ago in June of 2018, FIFA made the official announcement that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be coming to North America.
“This has been quite a prep, we’ve been at this for over a year now. So now seeing it all finally come together it’s very exciting and terrifying at the same time,” says Atilla Meijs, Atlanta FIFA FanFestival Executive Producer.
Now, at Centennial Olympic Park, crews are putting finishing touches on a large fan fest that is expected to draw about 15,000 people per day.
The fan fest will include multiple areas for watching matches, including a 40-foot Jumbotron that organizers are promoting as a key place in North America to watch the opening stretch of games on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
““We’ve got soccer communities that are gonna come play on our pitch, we’ve got podcasts, we’ve got stuff for kids going on like face panting I think we have folks selling honey we have a tattoo shop on certain days. So I really encourage everybody to check online for our daily programming, everyday we’ll have a new set,” Meijs says.
With the Spanish National Team currently in Chattanooga preparing for their first two games in Atlanta. there‘s already Chattanoogans in Atlanta
Spain’s National Team practicing at Baylor in Chattanooga. Image: WTVC
“I saw people from Chattanooga even coming over here. There was a mom with her son, they drove for an hour and a half just to look through the gates to see how the FIFA store was They’re so excited if you’re a soccer fan, you gotta be here,” Meijs says.
Atlanta’s first match is scheduled for next week, when Spain plays Cabo Verde at noon on Monday. The stadium is about 0.5 miles from Centennial Olympic Park.
“There’s a lot of excitement about this event. This is the best place to watch the match,” Meijs says.
For viewers who aren’t traveling to Atlanta, the World Cup will also be available to watch on Fox Chattanooga.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Dream hold off Chicago Sky 82-75, Rhyne Howard becomes youngest player to hit rare WNBA milestone
The Atlanta Dream beat the Chicago Sky 82-75 Tuesday night, pulling away in the fourth quarter to move to 3-1 in Commissioner’s Cup play.
Atlanta outscored Chicago 25-17 in the fourth to put the game away after the Sky had cut it to one point midway through the third quarter. Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard each made key plays down the stretch to secure the win.
Howard became the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 2,500 career points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, 200 steals and 100 blocks, finishing with 17 points and five assists.
Angel Reese added 17 points and 17 rebounds, her second straight 17-rebound game, the first time any player in Atlanta Dream history has done that back-to-back. It was also her eighth double-double of the season and the 57th of her career, the most double-doubles in WNBA history through 75 games.
Naz Hillmon chipped in a season-high 16 points on 50% shooting, knocking down three 3-pointers, while Allisha Gray added 14 points and three steals off the bench.
Atlanta led after the first quarter, 18-17, then fell behind by as many as three in the second half before pulling away in the fourth quarter. Canada controlled the floor all night, finishing with 14 points and six assists.
Natasha Cloud led Chicago with 18 points off the bench, and Skylar Diggins added 17. But the Sky couldn’t stop Atlanta’s second-half surge.
With the Dream’s third Commissioner Cup win, they have raised $10,000 for The King Center, their designated charity for the competition.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and other city leaders are expected to gather in downtown Atlanta Wednesday to share plans aimed at helping visitors and residents safely enjoy FIFA World Cup events in the city.
Ahead of the press conference, Dickens spoke about safety concerns, and MARTA announced its planned changes for the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday afternoon.
MARTA’s safety plan announcement comes less than a week before Spain and Cape Verde are set to face each other inside Atlanta Stadium.
It also comes during a violent stretch for MARTA, with a shooting last week and two stabbings, one of them deadly, more than 10 days ago.
MARTA is under a federal investigation following those incidents.
“A lot happened in a short amount of time and it’s time for us to show the world that they can course-correct,” Dickens said Tuesday.
Dickens said the recent incidents have put new pressure on MARTA as the region prepares for an influx of riders heading to matches and related events.
“This is go time. So MARTA is going to step up big, I think, to make sure they meet the moment. I am optimistic about what has occurred over the last couple of weeks has really lit a fire for MARTA that they will be able to meet this moment,” Dickens said.
MARTA has shared a safety plan it says will begin Thursday, June 11.
Under the plan, MARTA Police will work 10- to 12-hour shifts, six days a week, patrolling trains, stations, buses, bus transfer hubs and parking lots. MARTA also says its Real Time Crime Center will monitor the system around the clock through a network of cameras.
The agency says officers will also be stationed in a Mobile Command Vehicle positioned at key locations, and MARTA’s Emergency Operations Center will be activated for match and fan fest days.
MARTA said other changes are aimed at reducing crowding at stations on match and fan fest days, including trains running every five minutes to shorten wait times.
The agency also plans to keep at least 30 buses on standby and use special shuttle trains near Atlanta Stadium to handle ridership surges, while urging riders to spread out by using multiple downtown stations such as SEC District, Vine City and Peachtree Center.
MARTA has also launched a new safety feature in its transit app: integrated incident reporting that allows riders to report safety concerns in real time without needing the standalone “See & Say” app.
Some riders said the changes should have come sooner.
“Y’all are going to do it for some people coming across? What about the people of Atlanta?” MARTA rider Michael James said.
Other riders welcomed the update, calling it “much better” and saying it was “a good addition” with a “simple display.”
Meanwhile, James questioned how effective an app can be in a fast-moving emergency.
“I mean, you talking about an app, by the time you get to the phone, you’re already stabbed to death,” he said. “How am I getting stabbed and I’m looking for a phone?”
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