GBI says teenage girl shot by DeKalb police, teenage boy arrested

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - State investigators are reviewing a shooting by a police officer that left a "teenage girl" wounded in Stone Mountain on Tuesday afternoon, after police say she reached for a gun during a confrontation with officers.

What we know:

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the incident happened around 2:35 p.m. in the 2000 block of Treehills Parkway near South Hairston Road, after DeKalb County police responded to reports of two armed teenagers in the area.

When officers arrived, they encountered a "teenage boy" and girl. According to the GBI, an officer removed a gun from the boy’s waistband. A second officer then noticed what appeared to be a gun tucked into the girl’s waistband and gave her repeated commands to drop it. Investigators said the girl lifted her shirt, revealing a gun, then reached for it — prompting the officer to fire, hitting her.

The teenage girl was taken to a nearby hospital, where she is stable, according to authorities. The teenage boy was detained and taken to the DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center.

FOX 5 Atlanta’s SKYFOX helicopter spotted a heavy police presence around the complex just after 4 p.m., with multiple cruisers and crime scene tape surrounding the parking lot. 

Reporters on the ground saw two firearms at the scene — one appearing to be a weapon equipped with a drum-style magazine, capable of holding an extended number of rounds, and another resembling a short-barrel semi-automatic gun with a pistol brace.

What they're saying:

Neighbors told FOX 5 they saw officers rush into a building but did not hear gunfire. Witnesses said one of the teens was taken into custody at the scene while the other was placed in an ambulance.

A resident, identified only as Felecia H., said the shooting was unsettling for the community. "I live right there... when I first moved here, it was quiet, but in the last couple of years, you’re hearing gunshots. It’s scary," she said. "It gives me anxiety."

What's next:

Officials have not released the names or exact ages of those involved. It’s also unclear whether any shots were fired at officers or if body camera footage captured the incident.

The GBI said its independent investigation is ongoing. Once complete, the findings will be turned over to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office for review.

Dig deeper:

FOX 5 crews at the scene spotted a firearm with a large round drum-style magazine, often associated with semi-automatic rifles and pistols, which would give the weapon an extended capacity.

A second gun, which appears to be a short barrel semi-automatic gun with a pistol brace. 

DeKalb County government, in a non-binding resolution passed on May 8, 2018, called for limiting or ending the sale of bump-stocks, high-capacity magazines, and assault-style weapons. It also urged state leaders to raise the purchasing age to 21. 

Under Georgia law, there are no regulations on magazine capacity. Drum magazines of up to 100 rounds can be bought, sold, and legally possessed.