Chilling new footage, 911 calls released in 2021 Atlanta double murder

ATLANTA - Atlanta police are hoping video footage of a double murder days before Christmas 2021 could help lead them to the killer.

Investigators stood next to the loved ones of 46-year-old Stanley Pratt and 41-year-old Centria Fields Monday morning at police headquarters. 

They also released calls from one of the victim's children, who was 11 at the time, frantically calling 911 for help inside their apartment at the Columbia Peoplestown Apartments on Tuskegee Street in 2021. 

The backstory:

On the morning of Dec. 18, 2021, officers arrived at the apartments after someone called 911 to report the shooting.

Investigators said there was no sign of forced entry.

Atlanta police believe the suspect, dressed in all black, waited outside the Tuskegee Street apartment and waited for Pratt to come out and smoke his morning cigarette.

"The perpetrator had intimate knowledge of both victims, the layout of the apartment, and I do believe it was targeted," Detective Jarion Shephard, Atlanta Police, said.

Security footage from a security camera in the living room of the home captures audio of a gunshot, then Pratt running into his bedroom.

The 11-year-old was asleep on the couch.

Then, the assailant comes into the house, right to the bedroom, and more gunshots are captured. 

The little boy briefly comes to face-to-face with the killer before he gets away and calls 911. 

Timeline:

Police say the gunman waited outside for hours the morning of Dec. 18, 2021. 

When Pratt stepped outside to smoke, the shooter opened fire. Pratt ran back inside, and the assailant followed. Fields was shot moments later. The shooter ran past the 11-year-old son, sparing him.

"He sat out for almost two hours waiting on Stanley to come out. Like did y'all see anything?" Sharee Stewart, the mother of some of Pratt's children, said. "Did you hear the gunshots? Did y’all hear screaming kids in the house?"

A six-year-old child was also in the house in another bedroom.

In audio from the 911 call, the 11-year-old boy tells the operator,  "I was asleep. I woke up hearing gunshots and my parents are on the floor." 

When asked if the assailant was nearby, he said, "I don't know, I just saw him run out."

Police have not identified a motive.

Dig deeper:

"We really need the community's help in this," Homicide Commander Lt. Andrew Smith said at a press conference asking for more leads and tips on Monday morning.

In new security video shared during the press conference, Pratt is seen running into the bedroom. The other person is seen following him in, passing by Fields' son, who was sitting on the couch.

Homicide detectives say that they believe the suspect was someone who "definitely had intimate knowledge of the layout of the apartment" as well as Pratt's "early morning routine."

Authorities also shared the 911, where Fields' distraught son called to report that his "parents had been shot." 

Investigators say that they believe Fields was not the intended victim in the shooting and that she was in the gunman's way when the shooting happened.

What we don't know:

Authorities say that they believe the killings were "targeted," but that they don't know the motive behind the shooting. 

"We can only thank God that the children didn't get in the way because I believe that he would have took them also," Homicide Detective Shepherd said.

They are asking anyone who may have evidence or first-hand knowledge to contact them with any details that may help with the case.

What they're saying:

Speaking to FOX 5 back in 2022, Alanda Pritchett said her sister's children were "traumatized" by the situation. 

"They're hurt, they want answers too," Pritchett said.

She said that her sister felt safe at her apartment, since they were in a gated community.

Years later, details about the case remain limited.

"I can't even think of who would do something like this to hurt her like this. She didn't have any enemies. We talked a lot. She didn't seem to have a problem with anyone," Pritchett said. 

Speaking at the press conference, the family members said that they are "hurting" and called for anyone who may know something to come forward.

"This person took someone that means a lot to our family," the mother of three of Pratt's children said, visibly emotional. "Not only they took Stanley, they took Cece. Their children were at home. It was just a week before Christmas. The Christmas decorations were up in the house … He set up for two hours waiting for Stanley to come outside."

What you can do:

"We need actual witness testimony," said Detective Jarion Shephard. "I can't speak on the exact evidence that we have because I don't want to give too much out. But to push this forward, I need somebody with some firsthand knowledge."

Police said tips can be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tipline at 404-577-8477, online at StopCrimeAtl.org, or by texting CSGA and the tip to 738477. They say you do not have to give their name or any identifying information to be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

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