Suspect identified after 3 teens shot at Chamblee quinceañera

3 teens shot at Quinceañera in Chamblee

Three teenagers were wounded, one critically, in a shooting at a Quinceañera in Chamblee early Saturday morning.

CHAMBLEE, Ga. - Chamblee police have identified a suspect after three teenagers were shot during a quinceañera early Saturday morning.

What we know:

Investigators identified the alleged shooter as Israel Rojas.

Israel Rojas. Photo courtesy of DeKalb County Sheriff's Office

Two of the victims were 14-year-old girls while the third victim shot was a 15-year-old boy. 

Police say Rojas was attending a quinceañera at an event hall in the 4300 block of Buford Highway when a fight broke out, leading to the gunfire.

Officers working a nearby traffic stop around 12:45 a.m. heard multiple shots and saw a male suspect jumping a fence.

Following a brief foot chase, a lieutenant took Rojas into custody in a nearby parking lot.

A firearm was recovered along the path where he ran.

RELATED: 3 juveniles shot in Chamblee area, suspected shooter arrested

What they're saying:

Neighbors expressed shock at the violence, describing the community as a typically safe and quiet environment.

Resident Yasmine Butler said the shooting is out of character for the neighborhood.

"Very safe environment, you never have to worry about thieves or what occurred last night. No car break-ins, it's a very chill and peaceful environment," Butler said.

As a parent, Butler said her heart goes out to the families involved.

"Let's eliminate all gun violence. I understand protection, but when we are injuring kids, harming kids, it takes away the purpose God put us here for to show love, humility, compassion, favor, all the good things. No kids should have to live with that trauma," Butler said.

"I saw something that I thought was fundamentally wrong," said one witness who saw the aftermath.

 Local resident Amy Paulder added, "Kids, anybody getting hurt, injured is a bad thing, but definitely kids. I have one of my own so my heart is out for the other parents going through this".

What we don't know:

While police confirmed the shooting followed a fight, they have not yet released the specific motive or what sparked the initial physical altercation.

The names of the three teenage victims have not been made public. However, police told FOX 5 Atlanta on Monday that the female victim who was previously suffering from life-threatening injuries is now improving. 

Additionally, officials have not yet announced the specific charges Rojas will face.