Police investigate death of mother behind shopping plaza

Woman found dead after South Fulton shooting

South Fulton Police have confirmed they are investigating a fatal shooting after a woman was found dead in a parking lot near a popular shopping plaza near Cascade Road.

SOUTH FULTON, Ga. - A mother was found shot to death while on her lunch break Thursday morning in a parking lot behind a busy South Fulton shopping center.

Shooting near Cascade Road shopping plaza

What we know:

South Fulton police found a woman shot to death Thursday morning near her car in a parking lot on Cascade Road. The scene was located behind a busy shopping plaza near Fairburn Road.

Co-workers say the woman left her job nearby to go on a lunch break and never returned. Police arrived at the scene around 10:30 a.m. to find the victim had been shot. Investigators were seen meticulously searching the parking lot for evidence throughout the afternoon.

The victim leaves behind a 2-year-old child. Police received the initial call regarding the body at approximately 10:30 a.m.

What we don't know:

Police say they currently have very little information regarding who killed the woman or why the shooting took place. While colleagues noted they did not hear any gunfire despite being nearby since 9:45 a.m., investigators have not confirmed if a silencer was used.

Victim remembered as loving mother

What they're saying:

Friends and family are mourning the victim, who they described as a "loving, caring, outgoing, fun person to be around." One co-worker made a plea for the shooter to turn themselves in for the sake of the victim's family.

"Think about the people that you're killing, their families, their kids," the co-worker said. "Kids have to grow up without a parent. So just think first and put the guns down." 

What's next:

South Fulton police are continuing to search for the person responsible for the shooting. No descriptions of a suspect or a getaway vehicle have been released at this time.