ATLANTA — Gunfire erupted at a local park as dozens of children were at football practice in southwest Atlanta.
The shootout happened Monday night at Ben Hill Park.
Parents, who said they are still shaken, are calling for extra attention and extra security.
Cortez Stephens, a father, said he ran for his life when bullets went flying.
"It was just chaos," Stephens said. "It kept getting closer and closer."
Parents, including Stephens, had to drop what they were doing and run for cover with their children.
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The initial shock wore off, but the shots continued.
"We've got kids down here, and it's steadily going," Stephens said.
Witnesses said a fight during a dice game at a gazebo near the football field led to the gunfire.
"They said they found 50 shell casings, and it was just a war zone," Stephens said.
Since then, parents and the park director have met to talk about what they can do to keep this from happening again, but parents aren't satisfied.
"The answers they've been giving us: 'The budget -- we don't have the funds to provide the authority and the law enforcement.'"
The Atlanta Police Department told Channel 2 Action News it dedicated a great deal of resources to the Fairburn Road Corridor. Officials said they've authorized overtime to have more of a presence in the park.
Police said they have obtained surveillance video from the night of the shooting and are working to address the crime.
"Hopefully, they can do what they say they can do and see who did this," Stephens said.
If you have any information, you are urged to call CrimeStoppers at 404-577-TIPS.
Cox Media Group
