Teen killed in shooting at SW Atlanta apartment complex

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Atlanta Police are actively searching for the man investigators said caused the death of a teenage girl.

Officers said Dwight Lewis pointed a semi-automatic handgun at a vehicle with a 16-year-old inside. Police said Lewis fired several shots, which caused the 16-year-old girl’s death.

“We have witnesses that can place a gun in his hands firing shots towards the vehicle,” said Sgt. Warren Pickard with the Atlanta Police Department.

Police are not identifying the teenager because she is a juvenile. Officers said the shooting happened at the Deerfield Gardens apartment complex along Campbellton Road around 1 a.m. Thursday. Detectives said two men in the front seat were supposed to meet someone at the complex. Some kind of altercation broke out, and according to police a person outside the vehicle and the front seat passenger started shooting at each other. Officers believe Lewis shot first.

“Shot recklessly towards the vehicle and we have a 16-year-old, very young, lost her life at this scene,” said Sgt. Pickard.

Residents said they would be more vigilant as investigators actively search for Lewis.

“I was kind of scared because she was my age, close to my age and that could have been me,” said Aeriona Leeks who lives at the apartment complex.

Police are working to figure out what sparked the shooting.

“A lot of unanswered questions, but we do know we have a shooter and we can place a gun in the hands of Mr. Lewis and that is the person we are actively searching for at this time,” said Sgt. Pickard.

Police took the front seat passenger and driver in for questioning and said they were cooperating with the investigation.

Atlanta Police ask anyone with information on Lewis’ whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers, 404.577.TIPS. There is a $2,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.