Atlanta

Neighbors worried about constant, random gunfire from train tracks behind homes

ATLANTA — People in a local neighborhood said teens are sneaking onto train tracks behind their homes and firing weapons.

It’s happening in northwest Atlanta on Moores Mill near Defoors Ferry.

A home was hit by a stray bullet last year, and neighbors said the random gunfire keeps happening and they’re desperate for it to end.

“Unfortunately, it’s becoming a common event. You’re awakened in the middle of the night,” said a neighbor, who did not want to be identified.

He said there have been four separate incidents in the past week.

“It’s a street with a lot of young families and young kids and it’s just really scary to have something that serious be so close,” he said. “The fear is that you’re going to have stray bullet hit a child and it’s going to be a tragedy of tragedies.”

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Another neighbor took photos of weapons found near the tracks after police responded in the past.

“It’s really frightening that this type of arsenal is in the hands of someone so careless,” the neighbor said.

Neighbors said police respond as quickly as they can, but it’s always too late.

CSX owns the property. They’ve posted “no trespassing” signs, but that has not stopped the issue.

Residents believe the shooters are their neighbors in a nearby apartment complex that have easy access to the tracks.

They said the only thing that can stop this is someone there stepping up and speaking about the dangers of playing with guns.

“There just needs to be some awareness and leadership within and throughout the apartment complexes,” the neighbor said.

Residents said a teen was caught doing drugs and arrested on Thursday. They hope the people firing shots will be next.