South Fulton County

26-year-old teacher caught in crossfire of deputy-involved shooting

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has identified a man involved in a deputy-involved shooting in college park.

According to the GBI, James Bernard Lawrence, Jr., 29,  fired two shots at people in a busy crowd in the parking lot of the Cozumel Mexican Cantina on Old National Highway around 1 a.m.

A security guard and a Fulton County sheriff's deputy fired at the suspect and hit him. He was taken to a hospital where he is in critical condition.

The gunfire also injured a woman the GBI says was an innocent bystander.  The victim's mother identified her as Keyanna Brown, 26, and said she was shot in the arm while getting into her car. She is a local school teacher.

LaShann Ross shared video with Channel 2's Matt Johnson of medics treating an innocent bystander who was also shot.

Ross said she heard seven gunshots coming from the parking lot.

“I just seen everyone in mayhem, everyone was running, everyone was screaming, people were getting in their cars,” Ross said. “It's a scary feeling. I could have been in that crossfire.”

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Ross said she saw Brown after she was shot.

“She was in a lot of pain. She was screaming. She was crying. She was scared,” Ross said.

The suspected shooter was hit and taken into custody. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

Channel 2's Christian Jennings spoke with people as they returned to pick up their cars, which now have bullet holes in them.

“The police ran in and made everyone come out. We came out and that’s when they had it all surrounded,” another witness said.

None of the witnesses felt comfortable giving their names or showing their faces.