Gun violence devastates Atlanta on Easter weekend
A weekend of gun violence in Atlanta
It was a violent Easter weekend in metro Atlanta that left several people dead, including a toddler and teenage girl. Brittney Edney reporting.
ATLANTA - Gun violence rocked the city of Atlanta this Easter weekend, leaving at least two people dead and numerous others injured.
What we know:
Gunfire erupted all across Atlanta on Easter weekend, stretching into each of the city’s four quadrants, leaving devastation in its wake.
Four teens shot in SW Atlanta
Four teenagers were shot around 9 p.m. Sunday in southwest Atlanta near Sparks and Lee streets.
Victims included a 16-year-old, two 17-year-olds and one 18-year-old. At least one victim was reported to be in critical condition. No arrests had been announced as of early Monday morning.
RELATED: Four teens shot in southwest Atlanta, no arrests
Virginia-Highland area shooting on Easter
Atlanta police officers are investigating after a 15-year-old boy was shot in the 900 block of Highland View NE before noon on Sunday.
RELATED: Teen shot at home in Virginia-Highland area during domestic dispute
The victim was reportedly alert, conscious and breathing when police arrived. Investigators believe the shooting was the result of an escalating domestic dispute.
No further information has been released at this time.
Atlanta respond to a reported shooting on Highland View on April 5, 2026. (FOX 5)
Piedmont Park shooting
A 16-year-old girl was shot dead in Piedmont Park around 9 p.m. on Saturday following 404 Day celebrations in the city.
Police said the shooting was not connected to a permitted festival that had happened earlier in the night at the park.
Another 15-year-old girl was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital after being shot in the shoulder.
FOX 5 crews reported a chaotic scene with witnesses saying large crowds fled after shots rang out in the park’s far west end.
Police have released no arrests or suspect information.
RELATED: Piedmont Park shooting: Witnesses describe chaotic scene
Toddler dies after shooting on Washington Street
A 3-year-old was shot in the 900 block of Washington Street SW around 12:37 a.m. on Sunday.
The child was rushed to the hospital, where medical staff pronounced them deceased.
RELATED: 3-year-old dies after being shot in southwest Atlanta
Atlanta police have not announced any arrests in connection with the shooting.
3-year-old killed in Easter morning shooting in Atlanta
The Atlanta Police Department is investigating a tragic shooting that claimed the life of a 3-year-old child early Easter morning.
2 men injured on Edgewood Avenue
Two men, ages 25 and 30, were injured in the 400 block of Edgewood Avenue early Sunday morning.
RELATED: 2 men injured in Edgewood Avenue shooting, Atlanta police say
Atlanta police officers responded to the scene just before 2:30 a.m., where they found the victims. Both men were taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Atlanta’s Aggravated Assault Unit is investigating this shooting.
Shooting on Lakeside Village Drive
Atlanta police responded to the 900 block of Lakeside Village Drive SE around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday for reports of gunfire.
When officers arrived, they learned that all the possible victims and suspects had fled the scene.
One victim was found with a gunshot wound at Grady Memorial Hospital but refused to tell responding officers anything about the shooting, police said.
That victim was reportedly alert and conscious.
An investigation is ongoing.
18-year-old shot on Magnolia Street
Just before 11 p.m. on Saturday, Atlanta police officers heard gunfire coming from the 400 block of Magnolia Street NW.
Law enforcement arrived and found an 18-year-old man with a gunshot wound who was reportedly alert and breathing. The young man was taken to a hospital for further care.
No additional information has been released regarding the shooting.
Shooting near Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark
A 25-year-old man was shot in the 800 block of Willoughby Way NE, which is near the Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark, on Friday night.
Atlanta police officers found the victim in the 700 block of Ralph McGill Boulevard just before 8:40 p.m.
Investigators determined the victim had fled from Willoughby Way after being shot. Police said gunfire erupted after a dispute escalated.
SEE MORE: Man shot near Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark in Atlanta
City leaders react
What they're saying:
Atlanta city leaders are reacting to the violent Easter weekend in metro Atlanta.
Statement from Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington Jr. on Easter weekend deadly rampage of gun violence in Atlanta:
"I am deeply troubled and heartbroken by the wave of violence that unfolded across our city this past weekend, including the tragic shooting deaths of a teenage girl at Piedmont Park and the devastating loss of a toddler on Washington Street in Southwest Atlanta.
Reports also say there were shootings leaving people seriously injured on Edgewood Avenue downtown, Lakeside Village Drive in Southeast Atlanta, and Magnolia Street in Northwest Atlanta and another shooting in the Historic Fourth Ward in Northeast Atlanta.
These are not just headlines—they are lives cut short, families shattered, and communities shaken to their core. A park that should be a place of peace and recreation, and a neighborhood known for its vibrancy and safety, have both been marked by senseless acts of gun violence. This is unacceptable.
Let me be clear: this is not normal, and it must not become normal. The continued presence of gun violence in our communities demands urgent, sustained action from every level of leadership — law enforcement, policymakers, and community stakeholders alike.
We must recommit ourselves to strategies that both prevent crime and address its root causes, while ensuring that those who commit violent acts are held fully accountable. At the same time, we must support our police officers and invest in community-based solutions that interrupt cycles of violence before they escalate.
My thoughts are with the families who are grieving unimaginable losses today. As a sitting Fulton County commissioner and a practicing attorney, I have supported these neighborhoods. I stand with the residents who are feeling the pain of violence and I will do everything in my power to change this trend and put an end to this violence.
Enough is enough. Atlanta must be a city where every child, whether in a park or at home, is safe."
Former Atlanta councilmember and Former Fulton Commissioner Lee Morris issued the following statement today regarding the shooting deaths and gun violence across Atlanta on Easter weekend:
"The level of violence Atlanta experienced over Easter weekend is deeply alarming and profoundly sad. A teenage girl killed at Piedmont Park, a toddler shot to death in Southwest Atlanta, and additional shootings reported across the city represent a devastating toll on families and communities that deserve safety and peace.
Having served the people of Atlanta as a two-term city councilmember and later as a Fulton County commissioner, I know that public safety challenges of this magnitude require more than expressions of sorrow. They require experienced leadership, serious coordination, and a willingness to make both immediate and long-term decisions that protect lives. For example, we need to increase our focus on crime prevention through programs such as after-school programming, behavioral health and wellness services, and programs that help reduce repeat-offenders.
This moment calls for a balanced approach, one that supports law enforcement, insists on accountability for violent offenders, and invests in the prevention strategies that can stop these tragedies before they happen. We must be honest enough to admit that when violence continues at this pace, the system is not meeting the moment.
My heart goes out to the families mourning loved ones tonight and to the communities struggling to make sense of this pain. Atlanta and Fulton County must not grow numb to this violence. We need focused action, steady leadership, and a renewed commitment to public safety in every corner of our community."
What you can do:
Atlanta police investigators are working all cases.
If you have any information, cell phone footage, or witnessed any of these incidents, you are urged to contact the Atlanta Police Department or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.
To submit through Crime Stoppers, call 404-577-8477.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Atlanta Police Department and FOX 5 reporting.