Man arrested after 3-year-old caught in crossfire of gang-related shooting outside gas station

ATLANTA — A judge let a suspected gang leader on on bond despite his lengthy criminal history. Now, he’s charged in a shootout at a gas station where a 3-year-old child was caught in the crossfire.

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Police arrested Marquis Brinkley Thursday night.

The shootout happened just before 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 7th. Police Brinkley and Zachary White, both of whom are convicted felons with gang ties, started exchanging gunfire in the parking lot. Bullets hit the car with the 3-year-old and adult inside, but somehow, they were not hurt.

White was shot twice in the leg. Brinkley ran away before police got to the scene.

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Channel 2′s Michael Seiden dug into Brinkley’s criminal background, and learned that he’s been booked into jail on violent crimes at least a dozen times. Brinkley is also one of seven defendants charged in DeKalb County with violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act as well as conspiracy to commit trafficking heroin.

Despite his history, a judge agreed to set Brinkley’s bond at $35,000.

To neighbors, getting caught in the crossfire of gang shootings is a worst nightmare.

“It’s wild! I’m really tired of Atlanta and the gun violence, definitely with the kids,” one neighbor said. “People shouldn’t be doing that. We just want to enjoy life.”

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