Piedmont Park shooting: Witnesses describe chaotic scene

ATLANTA - Atlanta police are investigating a double shooting that left one teen girl dead and another hospitalized after gunfire broke out inside Piedmont Park on Saturday night. 

What we know:

Atlanta police officers were dispatched to the park just after 9 p.m. on Saturday for reports of a person shot.

When they arrived, they found a 15-year-old girl had been shot in the shoulder. She was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and is currently stable.

Investigators continued searching the scene and found a second victim, a 16-year-old girl, who was also shot. Despite life-saving efforts, the girl died at the scene. The teenager was later identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner as Tianah Robinson. 

Atlanta police said the shooting was not associated with a permitted event that happened on the opposite side of the park and concluded at 7:45 p.m.

"Preliminary investigation indicates the incident stemmed from an unpermitted gathering that occurred near the far west end of the park," the agency said in a statement. 

Investigators stated they located multiple crime scene locations and utilized K-9 units to find ballistic evidence.

"We were able to locate multiple crime scene locations with some ballistic evidence. Our K-9 came on scene and was able to locate different areas of concern," said Lt. Christopher Butler, Unit Commander Homicide, Atlanta Police Dept.

What we don't know:

Police have not yet identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the shooting.

The motive for the gunfire remains under investigation, and it is unclear if the victims were the intended targets.

Timeline:

7:45 p.m.: A permitted event on the east side of Piedmont Park concluded.

Post-event: A large crowd remained inside the park.

9:04 p.m.: Officers received reports of a person shot and arrived to find two victims.

Late Saturday: K-9 units and homicide investigators processed a "rather large" crime scene that spanned the area near the park's pond.

What they're saying:

"When we got here on scene, there was a lot of confusion," said FOX 5 reporter Rey Llerena. "There was a lot of people running around, scattering... people walking around trying to figure out what made sense."

"There were a large number of people here, so if you saw anything, please make sure you contact us and let us know," an Atlanta Police spokesperson said during a late-night press briefing.

When asked about witness reports describing a "teen takeover" involving people in masks, Lieutenant Butler noted, "We've heard things about a gathering as far as the age groups; we're still trying to determine what exactly that was. We're working all angles and gathering all the footage that's inside the park."

Witnesses describe 'pow-pow' sounds and panic

The sounds of the shooting stood out to those nearby. One witness described the rapid nature of the gunfire. 

"I don't know what kind of gun it is, but like pow-pow-pow-pow-pow, pow-pow-pow-pow-pow," the witness said. "And then that's when I started hearing the police."

An event coordinator, who asked to remain anonymous, was at the park for the 404 Day festival and noted a lack of security. 

"I plan large events like this, and I didn't see any police presence," she said. "I didn't see any police presence for security, for crowd control."

One neighborhood resident named Chris Beauregard said the area was so crowded with cars that people could not leave their homes. 

"We’re not unaccustomed to festivals in this neighborhood, but usually for a festival of this size and scale with tens of thousands of people, there is Atlanta police present conducting traffic control, ensuring that everyone’s behaving accordingly and all of that was absent," Beauregard explained.

Statement from 404 Day Piedmont Park festival organizers

The organizers of the 404 Day festival at Piedmont Park released the following statement:

Our hearts are with the families and everyone affected by the tragic events that occurred outside the event last evening. We extend our deepest prayers and condolences during this incredibly difficult time.

The safety and well-being of our guests has always been our highest priority.

We want to reassure our community that every member of our team worked closely with our security and local authorities to keep our patrons safe. We are deeply saddened by what occurred and remain committed to supporting our community in any way we can.

Statement from 404 Day! Weekend organizers

The organizers of 404 Day! Weekend released a statement on Instagram saying:

Our hearts go out to the family of the woman who lost her life and to the 15-year-old who was injured near Piedmont Park on Sunday night. This is a tragedy and our thoughts are with everyone affected.

404 Day! Weekend, the four-day citywide celebration produced by The 404 Collective, Atlanta Influences Everything, ButterATL, Finish First, and Trap Music Museum, is a separate event and we have no affiliation with the 404 Day Festival held at Piedmont Park.

Our events took place across multiple venues across Atlanta and concluded without any incidents.

We remain committed to producing safe, community-centered experiences that celebrate Atlanta and reinvest in our city.

What you can do:

Anyone with information, photos, or video of the gathering and the subsequent shooting is asked to contact the Atlanta Police Department or Crime Stoppers.

AtlantaCrime and Public SafetyNews