Former GSU football player killed in Vine City shooting, arrest made
Police say 19-year-old shot 4 in Vine City
Atlanta police booked 19-year-old Naim Smith into the Fulton County Jail on murder and armed robbery charges following a quadruple shooting in Vine City.
ATLANTA - A 19-year-old man is accused of murder after a deadly shooting at a downtown Atlanta apartment complex on Tuesday left one person dead and three others with gunshot wounds.
What we know:
Naim Smith, 19, faces charges of murder, two counts of aggravated assault and three counts of armed robbery following the violence at the Flats on Maple Street apartments. Smith remains booked into the Fulton County jail.
Naim Smith booking photo (Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office)
The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office identified the deceased victim as 35-year-old Demazio S. Skelton Jr.
Officers responded to the scene around 3 p.m. Tuesday near Mercedes-Benz Stadium and found two men shot inside an apartment unit. First responders rushed both men to Grady Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
PREVIOUS STORY: 1 dead, 3 injured in downtown Atlanta apartment shooting, police say
A third man arrived separately at Grady Memorial Hospital with a gunshot wound and is also in stable condition.
Atlanta Police Lt. Christapher Butler confirmed the ages of the three surviving victims as 19, 36 and 37 years old.
Investigators confirmed a vehicle was involved in the incident and positively identified it using Flock cameras. Officers noted the shooting appears to be a targeted incident between the men inside the apartment, with no known ongoing threat to the community.
What we don't know:
While Atlanta Police brought the Gang Unit to the scene to investigate potential gang ties or conflicts, Lt. Butler noted it remains too early to confirm a gang link.
What they're saying:
Skelton was a former Georgia State University football player in 2012. The university shared a statement following his passing.
"We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the tragic loss of Demazio Skelton Jr. He was an exceptional student-athlete and is among the top defensive players to take the field for the Panther football team. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends, former teammates and those who knew and loved him. He will forever be a Georgia State Panther."
Naim Smith is accused of murder following a deadly shooting at a downtown Atlanta apartment complex on August 4, 2026. (Booking photo credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office)
Neighbor Ann Glass was waiting at the bus stop for her grandchildren when gunfire erupted. "It's a mess right now," Glass said. "They hurting each other. People are just hurting each other. It hurts my feelings. I'm hurt."
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from Atlanta Police Department officials, who provided incident reports and statement details, as well as Georgia State University school records, Fulton County Sheriff's Office booking records, and neighbor Ann Glass.