Atlanta homeowner arrested after shooting alleged porch pirates

ATLANTA - An Atlanta homeowner accused of shooting two teens he believed stole a package has been arrested, according to court documents obtained by FOX 5.

What we know:

Rakim Bradford, 34, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Police say Bradford shot two teens after they allegedly stole a package from his porch. Both teens are expected to survive.

According to a co-worker who said Bradford called him after the shooting, Bradford was inside his home on Celeste Lane cleaning his gun when he received a notification that a package had arrived. When he went to retrieve it, he opened the door and saw three males that he thought were stealing the package. The witness told police Bradford later called him and said his gun went off, and he believed he hit one of the teens in the back.

Bradford then ran from the scene, according to an arrest warrant, but later turned himself in to police — bringing the gun with him.

Investigators recovered one shell casing at the scene.

What they're saying:

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum responded to the scene Thursday and said the department is taking the case seriously.

"We believe a property crime was occurring that some packages were being taken off of a front porch," said Atlanta Polcie Chief Darin Schierbaum. "The homeowner did discharge his weapon to stop that theft of the packages. We want to make sure we know what's happening as individuals being held accountable and what resources may be needed for that family."

The shooting has sparked conversation among residents of the community, especially during the busy holiday delivery season. Neighbors told FOX 5 they can understand concerns on both sides of the situation.

"It’s a sad situation," said Nubian Barnes, who lives in the complex, adding that the response was "too excessive."

Another resident, Andrew Julian, said the incident reflects growing concerns about theft. "Certainly people have" worries about "what's on your porch," he said.

The backstory:

Authorities say the shooting happened Wednesday evening at Bradford’s home on Celeste Lane in the Villages of Cascade townhome community.

Both teens were rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital following the shooting. Police say one teen was shot in the torso and required emergency surgery. The second teen was shot in the foot. Authorities say both are expected to recover, though the first teen remains hospitalized.

What we don't know:

Police have not said whether the teens involved will face any charges.

What's next:

Bradford remains in the Fulton County Jail.