ATLANTA — An investigation is underway after a child died in a shooting Saturday afternoon, according to police.
Channel 2’s Eryn Rogers was live on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m.
Atlanta police confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that a 12-year-old boy was shot in the 1800 block of Lathrop St SE.
Police were dispatched to the scene at about 1:49 p.m.
The child was taken to the hospital in critical condition, officials said. Despite lifesaving efforts, he died of his injuries.
Police say they detained some people.
Investigators are questioning a youth and adults that were inside of the location when the shooting happened.
An APD captain says two young people and their parents are cooperating with them, but they’re still trying to figure out exactly who was inside the room with the 12 or 13-year-old victim.
“Our homicide team is trying to ascertain what exactly led to the shooting,” said Capt. Germain Dearlove.
Rogers got security video from a neighbor timestamped 1:49 p.m. that shows people running from the home.
“We will have to speak with the mom to identify and confirm we have everyone.
Police say they detained two young people who are cooperating, but family members of the victim said off camera that the boy had just moved to the neighborhood.
He had friends over and they were playing with the gun inside a bedroom, and that’s when the 12 or 13-year-old boy got shot in the chest.
“It’s just one of those things that happen, that it don’t have to happen,” said neighbor Michael Dennis.
Neighbors say it’s normally a pretty quiet neighborhood, but one neighbor who didn’t want to be identified says this week has been different.
“Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, around the same time, kids would come by my house, duck behind the church and just shoot,” the neighbor said.
That neighbor said they called police because they thought someone might get hurt: “I was concerned for my safety.”
There’s been an upsurge in youth violence in just the past week, where four young people have been shot and three have died.
Police say they have a message for parents and guardians.
“Check your homes. Make sure these weapons are secure. If they have friends over, don’t let them close that door. Check on them, do periodic updates,” Dearlove said.
Police say right now, they’re not able to say if the shooting was accidental or intentional.
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