Atlanta family pleads for answers after 3-year-old killed
Family pleads for answers after toddler killed
An Atlanta family is pleading for answers after a 3-year-old boy was shot and killed at an apartment complex on Easter morning.
ATLANTA - A search is underway for the person who shot and killed a 3-year-old boy at a southwest Atlanta apartment complex early Easter morning.
What we know:
Atlanta police responded to an apartment complex on Washington Street early Sunday morning.
Investigators found 3-year-old Armani Lyons with a gunshot wound to the head.
Medics rushed the child to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
At the time of the shooting, Armani was under the care of his 70-year-old babysitter.
The child’s grandmother told FOX 5 that the family had used the same babysitter since Armani was a baby and never had any previous issues.
What we don't know:
Police are still trying to determine exactly what led to the gunfire.
It is currently unclear if the shooter was inside the apartment or if the shots came from outside.
No suspects have been identified, and no arrests have been made.
Grandmother of 3-year-old Armani Lyons speaks out
A 3-year-old child died early Sunday morning after being shot at an apartment complex in southwest Atlanta. The toddler was under the care of a 70-year-old babysitter while the parent was at work. Police questioned the babysitter but have not filed any charges or identified other suspects. We spoke to the 3-year-old's grandmother.
What they're saying:
Armani’s grandmother, Trinetta Julian, shared her heartbreak over the sudden loss of the toddler she described as always happy.
3-year-old Armani Lyons (Credit: GoFundMe)
"Every time I pulled up, he'd just run out," Julian said. "He'd run to my car and say 'Grandma, Grandma!' He used to be so happy."
Julian expressed disbelief that anyone could harm her grandson.
"I just can’t believe this happened," she said. "I can't believe somebody would do this to him. Like, why?"
Julian was preparing for work early Sunday morning when Armani's mother called with the news.
"She was like, 'Tren.' She said, 'Mani got shot.' And I was like, 'You lying.' She was like, 'No.' I said, 'Well, what happened?' She said, 'I don't know.'"
The grandmother arrived at the hospital but did not get a chance to say goodbye.
"By the time the security officer was about to walk me to the back, she had came out, and she told me that he was gone already. So we didn't even get a chance to see him," Julian said.
Julian added that the babysitter had not shared any information about the shooting with Armani's family.
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What you can do:
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact the Atlanta Police Department. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
The family has started a fundraiser to help with burial costs.
To see the GoFundMe, click here.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Atlanta Police Department and an interview with the victim's grandmother conducted by FOX 5 reporter Annie Mapp.