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If you have any information related to any of the cases mentioned, call 404-577-TIPS (8477), and submit your tip. This line is encrypted, and they do not use Caller ID or record the calls. You can remain anonymous. You might also be eligible for the standard $5,000 reward.
A 7-year-old Southwest Atlanta boy is in the hospital, after being shot in his home while he slept. Ballistic testing has confirmed this shooting was only a continuation of an earlier shooting that left at least one dead. Furthermore, the investigation is proving the shootings are part of a deadly Atlanta gang war.
What Happened
According to CBSNews.com, on Thursday, April 2, the unnamed boy was asleep in his bed in the Ashley Cascade Apartments. He was awakened when multiple shots rang out just before 1:45 AM. Before he could find a safe place to hide, he was struck by one of the bullets. The police arrived to find a scene of chaos.
Crime scene investigators collected dozens of shell casings scattered across the street and the apartment complex. And the damage was unbelievable. The gunfire was so heavy that it pierced the walls of at least three different apartment units. Police found shells from Glocks with switches and AR-style rifles. Authorities have said the attack appears to be targeted due to the number of shots fired and style of weapons used. They also connected the shooting to a prior shooting that occurred two days before and killed one.
In that case, emergency dispatchers got a call on Monday night at about 8:45 pm. Police responded to the report of a person shot at the Preserve at Camp Creek, but they didn’t expect to see a war zone. It the parking lot, police cordoned off a car that had been struck multiple times with high-power gunfire. They also located two victims in grim condition.
One man had multiple gunshot wounds and was unresponsive. Despite life-saving efforts by first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The facts suggested the shooting had been an ambush. A second victim survived the shooting and gave a recollection of what happened to the police. But law enforcement did their own digging and began to uncover the elements of a street war right in their own city.
The Homicide Unit and the Aggravated Assault Unit immediately took over. By the end of the night, the APD had taped off a huge section of the complex to process the vehicle and the surrounding area for forensics. The shell casings were the key to connecting the two crimes and the gang elements.
Police believe the victim killed on March 30 was a member of the “Billies,” a sub-faction of the United Blood Nation (UBN). This particular set, the Billies or “Billionaires,” is also known as the Nine Trey Gangstas. Their opposition is allegedly the GMDs (Getting Money Daily). Their rivalry seems to stem from previous conflicts over territory, police believe.
The Takeaway
The 7-year-old Atlanta boy who was shot was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. One of the men shot on March 30 was taken to the hospital in critical condition, while the other didn’t survive. The shootings have been connected through ballistics testing. Forensics is still processing evidence, as the police investigate the shootings as part of an Atlanta street gang war. There are no suspects in custody for either shooting as of right now.
Police are urging the public to submit tips to catch the killers. You can remain anonymous as well and call 404-577-TIPS (8477). This line is encrypted, and they do not use Caller ID or record the calls. Online, you can go to StopCrimeATL.org and fill out the form. Use the App P3 Tips. Or text CSGA plus your tip to 738477 (crimes). You might also get a reward of $5,000. Help make your streets and our world safer.
Jermaine Reed, MFA is an educator and the Editor-in-Chief of TheReedersBlock. Take time to Subscribe. It helps promote independent journalism and the site. Follow him on TikTok, where he has over 9 million views and nearly 1 million likes. Help him get there.
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