Boy, 11, witnessed 'senseless' Atlanta shooting that left child dead

Police search for shooter that killed child

Atlanta police are still searching for the person responsible for killing a 7-year-old and wounding her mother on on Tiger Flowers Drive NW

ATLANTA - A 7-year-old girl is dead, and her mother is hospitalized after a "senseless" shooting at a west Atlanta home on Tuesday night.

Zoey Price shot and killed in home

What we know:

The shooting prompted Atlanta’s police chief to issue a direct ultimatum to the shooter: "Turn yourself in."

Atlanta Police Chief Darren Schierbaum said officers were dispatched to a home at approximately 9:49 p.m. following reports of shots fired into the home in the 2200 block of Tiger Flowers Drive NW. Upon arrival, police found a 44-year-old woman and her 7-year-old daughter suffering from gunshot wounds.

Officers immediately began rendering medical care and decided to drive the child directly to Grady Memorial Hospital due to the wait time on an ambulance arriving. Despite their efforts, Schierbaum confirmed the girl later died. 

The Fulton County Medical Examiner identified the girl as Zoey Price. 

Price's mother is currently in stable condition and is expected to survive.

Investigators believe the shooting was the culmination of a dispute between two individuals that occurred roughly 30 minutes before the gunfire. While the individuals involved were likely known to one another, the chief stated they do not believe the incident was domestic or that the suspect is a family member.

7-year-old girl killed inside west Atlanta home

A 7-year-old girl is dead, and her mother is hospitalized after a "senseless" shooting at a west Atlanta home on Tuesday night.

‘We’re coming for you’

What they're saying:

"We believe an individual came to this location and opened fire on the home," Schierbaum said. "We’re going to find them right now. Investigators are going after strong leads."

Addressing the suspect directly during the press conference, the chief added: "You know who you are. If you’re watching this broadcast, turn yourself in, because we are going to come to your house, we are going to the restaurant, and we’re going to take you into custody."

"Our officers are mothers and fathers. They're brothers and sisters to young siblings," Schierbaum said. "When it’s a child, it hits home. The Atlanta Police Department has lost a child tonight, and the city of Atlanta has lost a child."

The chief noted that four officers are currently receiving support from the department due to the emotional toll of the evening's events.

"We stand here tonight that says there's still too many guns in the wrong hands, and they're being fired in times of anger," Schierbaum said. "We’re coming for you and put you in jail, and we’re going to bring justice to this community."

Community in shock

Outside the home on Wednesday morning, toys remained on the porch. Neighbors described Zoey as a sweet child who was a fixture in the neighborhood.

One neighbor, who heard the gunfire but asked to remain anonymous, recalled the terrifying moment the shots rang out. "I did definitely hear the shocks," he said. "It wasn’t anything crazy, but it was about 7 to 10... they shot up a home and killed that baby girl."

The neighbor, identifying himself as a Morehouse man, expressed his outrage over the violence. "She was definitely sweet. I’ve seen her going to the bus stop. I’ve seen her playing with her toys... I’m disgruntled, I’m appalled... It’s too close to home."

11-year-old Anderson Hernandez witnessed the violence and is still shaken by what he saw. 

"I couldn't believe it. I just started panicking inside of my bed. I just went to the room and started crying. I just can't believe my eyes," Hernandez said while visibly choked up. 

We are losing more kids today than we ever lost. It's the young kids that are leaving us," lamented neighbor Kimberly Turner. Turner brought roses, stuffed animals, and balloons to mark the site. 

"I want to say to all the young kids, all the young guys… Put these guns down. Put them down. Y'all are going to cause somebody's family to lose somebody else, and you all will lose your freedom," neighbor Kimberly Turner said.

What you can do:

The Atlanta Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact Crime Stoppers.