Teen who was found shot to death in DeKalb County woods identified

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - Police have identified the teenager whose body was found in the woods near a DeKalb County apartment complex along North Hairston Road on Thursday morning.

DeKalb County Police swarmed an area near the Reserve at Hairston Lake 62+ apartment community after a call about someone shot. That is where offices discovered the teen’s body.

"Everybody needs to stop the shooting," said Monica McNeal who lives nearby.

McNeal saw the large police response around 9:30 a.m.

"It’s very scary and makes you not want to go out," she said. "It’s a shame you can’t walk out and do daily things today and there’s all this shooting going on."

On Friday, investigators identified the victim as 17-year-old James Smith, and said that he was found dead in the woodline after being shot.

"The teenagers are the ones who are getting killed," McNeal said. "They’re killing each other and that’s a shame, that’s sad."

McNeal talked to the Smith's family who was on scene and says understandably they are going through a lot right now. She says something needs to be done about teen violence.

"They’re not living to have families and children and living to our age," she said. "The kids are leaving before us."

Investigators believe that Smith had a dispute with "unknown persons" a few days before the shooting, which may be tied to his death.

"It’s too close to home, people just need to put the guns down," McNeal said. "It would make this world a better world to live in."

No arrests have been announced at this point.

FOX 5 spoke to a member of the victim’s family. They did not want to go on camera but said this unexpected loss has left them broken.

Officials are asking anyone with information connected to Smith's death to call detectives at (770) 724-7850.