DeKalb County

Woman walking her dog finds man shot to death inside car at DeKalb park

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Police are investigating after a man was found shot to death inside a car at a DeKalb County park.

Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes was at Shoal Creek Park, where the victim was discovered by a woman who was walking her dog Friday morning.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The victim’s body was in the driver’s seat of a car with both doors open.

Police found several shell casings at the scene. It is unclear what time the shooting occurred or where, but one neighbor said she saw the car sitting in the parking lot as early as 4 a.m.

Sarah Tynes walks through Shoal Creek Park often because she lives in the area. She said she saw a white car sitting in the park early Friday morning, but didn’t think much about it.

TRENDING STORIES:

“I mean, I ran by it and I saw a leg sticking out and thought they were just interviewing somebody,” Tynes said. “And then found out it’s an actual dead person.”

One neighbor said he heard a lot of gunfire in the park on New Year’s Eve, which may be why investigators found so many shell casings at the scene.

Tynes said the park seems to attract people who probably don’t live in the neighborhood.

“It’s very dark, there’s a lot of drug activity and we assume gang activity,” Tynes said. “I do run here a lot in the early morning and I see various cars. They’re not people out walking. It’s pretty common activity.”

Dave Weil said a lot goes on in the park after dark.

“Well, it definitely doesn’t make me feel great about the neighborhood,” Weil said. “Things happen here, but nobody likes to see anybody getting killed on your street, you know?”

Investigators told Fernandes that the victim was 22 years old. He has not been identified because police are still notifying his family.

Police have not said if they have been able to identify any suspects.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS