Atlanta police investigate the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy at the Villages of Castleberry Hills apartments on Jan. 14, 2026. (FOX 5)
ATLANTA - A 14-year-old boy died Wednesday evening after "mishandling" a gun at the Villages of Castleberry Hill Apartments in southwest Atlanta, police say.
An adult who was with the teen at the time has been detained.
What we know:
Officers responded just after 7 p.m. to the 500 block of Greensferry Avenue SW, near Northside Drive.
According to the Atlanta Police Department, officers found the teenager with a gunshot wound.
He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators say the teen and the adult were "mishandling" the gun when it went off, striking the teen.
The adult was taken to police headquarters for questioning.
What they're saying:
Witnesses at the scene described a heavy emergency response, seeing medics wheel the teenager out on a stretcher as investigators taped off the building. One neighbor, returning home to the active crime scene, expressed shock at the violence.
What we don't know:
The specific involvement of the adult remains under investigation.
It was not clear if the adult will face charges.
The names of both the teen and adult have not been released.
The Source: The details in this article were provided by the Atlanta Police Department. This article has been updated since it was originally published.