5 shootings, a stabbing leave 3 dead, 4 injured overnight, Atlanta police say

Two men were killed early Saturday in northwest Atlanta, according to police.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Two men were killed early Saturday in northwest Atlanta, according to police.

From late Friday until early Saturday, Atlanta officers investigated five separate shootings and a stabbing that left three dead and several others injured across the city.

The nine hours of violence began Friday night, when a 17-year-old and 20-year-old were injured in separate shootings in southwest Atlanta, according to police. By 5 a.m., three men were dead and another person injured in two other shootings, and within an hour, a person was stabbed multiple times.

On Saturday, all of the incidents remained under investigation, and no arrests had been announced.

At 8:25 p.m. Friday, officers were flagged down on Stanton Road in southwest Atlanta, where they found a 20-year-old man who had been shot in the face. He was alert while taken to the hospital, according to police. Investigators believe the man was shot about a mile away on Plaza Lane.

About five miles away, a 17-year-old was shot multiple times on Maple Walk Circle in southwest Atlanta shortly before midnight, police said. The teenager was in a verbal dispute that led to gunfire, but was alert when taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Within an hour, the violence turned deadly when two men were shot to death early Saturday in northwest Atlanta, according to police. But so far, investigators have few clues to what led to the shooting.

Officers were called to the 700 block of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard near the Simpson Plaza shopping center around 12:45 a.m. on a report of gunshots, police said.

One 51-year-old man died at the scene and a second man, a 49-year-old, died from his injuries at Grady Memorial Hospital, police said. Capt. Joshua Holt told the news station. Their names were not released.

There was an argument before the shooting, but no other details were released about a possible motive, Capt. Joshua Holt told Channel 2 Action News.

“The issue is we don’t have a lot of witnesses at this time,” Holt said. “It’s one of those things where investigators will have talk to witnesses later and watch video available at this location.”

On Saturday, investigators released video of a possible suspect in the shootings.

Anyone with information on the case was asked to submit a tip anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online www.StopCrimeAtl.org, or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). Tips can also be submitted directly to the Atlanta Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 404-546-4235.

Three weeks ago, a man was killed in a separate shooting at the same shopping plaza, according to police. On April 14 shortly before 2 a.m., officers were called to Simpson Plaza where 43-year-old Harry Ponder of Atlanta was shot to death. According to investigators, Ponder had noticed two people, a former couple, getting into a dispute at the plaza and attempted to intervene when he was shot.

Just before 4 a.m. Saturday, investigators were called to the Magic City strip club located at 241 Forsyth Street in southwest Atlanta. There, officers located a 33-year-old man who had been shot. He died at the scene from his injuries.

At the scene, Lt. Andrew Smith told reporters there was a shootout between two groups outside the club. Investigators said they believe an off-duty security officer fired shots.

Meanwhile, at 4:47 a.m., a 42-year-old man who with a gunshot wound was alert when he arrived at Grady by private vehicle, according to police. The victim told officers he was in the area of 860 Glenwood Avenue, which is the location of the Glenwood at Grant Park Apartments, when he heard gunfire and was shot.

While that investigation continued, officers were notified of a person stabbed multiple times that arrived at Emory University Hospital Midtown shortly before 6 a.m.

The 23-year-old was sitting in his vehicle near 436 Peachtree Street when he was approached by an unknown suspect who stabbed him multiple times, according to police.