Argument between strangers outside Greenbriar Mall ends in fatal shooting, police say

Greenbriar Mall deadly shooting update

An argument between two strangers at Greenbriar Mall on Thursday evening ended with one of them dead from a shooting. Police identified the victim as a 28-year-old man. One person has been detained for questioning. FOX 5's Rob DiRienzo has the story.

ATLANTA - A man was shot and killed outside the Greenbrriar Mall on Thursday evening, sending shoppers panicking.

"I just heard gunshots rang out and everybody started screaming," a witness, who didn't wish to be identified, said. "We looked and it was a body on the ground. The man who did it, he just stayed there. He didn’t even try to run."

What we know:

According to Atlanta police, officers were called to the mall, located at 2841 Greenbriar Parkway SW, just before 5 p.m. where they located a 28-year-old male who had been shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Investigators say the 28-year-old victim’s body was just outside the entrance to the mall’s food court.

Police activity outside of Greenbriar Mall on Thursday November 13, 2025 (Scott Simpson/FOX 5 Atlanta)

Investigators say an off-duty police officer who was working another job inside the mall, ran outside after hearing the gunfire.

"While still observing the area, he was able to identify a possible suspect who was detained without incident," Lt. Christopher Butler, Atlanta Police, said. "This male has been transported to headquarters to be interviewed by homicide detectives."

Police say security video shows the victim tried to get away.

Police activity outside of Greenbriar Mall on Thursday November 13, 2025 (Scott Simpson/FOX 5 Atlanta)

What they're saying:

Shoppers were worried the gunfire was possibly an active shooter situation. 

"You get told you need to leave, you don't know what’s going on. The person could come shooting up in there, you don’t know," said Sharya Yasharala, who was shopping at the mall at the time. "It’s a tragedy. A young dude that lost his life, then another family lost their child because he’s going to prison. It’s sad."

What we don't know:

Investigators are still working to determine how the argument started and what it was about.

"Stranger on stranger,  it’s just unfortunate that somebody is here at the mall, and then a verbal dispute leads to gunfire," Lt. Butler said.

Police say, as far as they can tell, the two men did not know each other.

"That man didn’t know when he woke up today that it would be his last day. So it was life changing," a witness said.

On Thursday evening, police said the possible suspect was taken to APD headquarters for questions. 

No charges have been filed as of yet.