Mother in stable condition after shooting outside Lenox Square

Image 1 of 12

A 23-year-old mother is in stable condition after she was shot outside Lenox Square on Wednesday. 

Atlanta Police said Jenna White and her baby's father were visiting the Buckhead mall from South Carolina. They had just finished shopping inside Forever Diamonds, but police said they were being stalked. Two suspects followed the couple back to their car parked outside.

App users: Click here to watch the YouTube clip

Police said the young mother had just strapped her baby into car when one of the suspects got into the back seat right next to the child. He demanded the jewelry they purchased at the store, but police said when the couple told the gunman they had not bought anything, he opened fire, hitting White in the lower abdomen.

Investigators said the two suspects ran off, leaving the baby’s father trying to speed to the closest possible hospital. The couple was just a few blocks away from Piedmont Hospital when they had to stop.

Authorities received a 911 call around 7 p.m. asking for assistance in the parking lot of the Benihana located in the 2100 block of Peachtree Road. 

Investigators spent the evening combing over the backseat of their car, trying to lift any fingerprints or discover any other evidence that would help lead them to the armed robbers. Police said the incident was captured on surveillance cameras, which should provide good information about the two suspects.

Police said the child was not hurt in the shooting. 

A spokesperson for Lenox Square released the following statement Thursday:

"Lenox Square is committed to providing a safe, quality-shopping environment and takes several proactive security measures, including maintaining a 24-hour security patrol of our mall, parking garages and surrounding parking lots, and provides shoppers and employees with security escorts to their vehicles upon request.
 
"Lenox Square has a close working relationship with the Atlanta Police Department and thanks to the collaborative relationship, the APD has an onsite substation located at Lenox Square, enhancing safety for the property, surrounding businesses and community members. Lenox Square works with the APD, off-duty police officers and additional professional security contractors to provide dedicated security patrols at all times – 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. Additionally, through the Atlanta Operation Shield, Lenox Square provides CCTV video surveillance footage of the property to the Atlanta Police Foundation’s Video Integration Center (VIC) to proactively ensure a safe and secure shopping environment."

Investigators are asking anyone who may have a information about the violent crime to call Atlanta Police or Crime Stoppers. The Buckhead Coalition has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.