ATLANTA — Three people were shot Friday afternoon outside The Mall West End, according to police.
The shooting happened just around 3:30 p.m. in the mall parking lot on the corner of Lee Street and Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.
Police told Channel 2's Lori Wilson it started inside the mall with a drug-related transaction. Witnesses told police the people involved identified themselves as rival gang members.
Breaking: APD says shooting is gang related. Started with a transaction inside the Mall West End. 3 people shot. 2 male, 1 female. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/1IE0uRUHVm
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) March 17, 2017
The argument then spilled outside. Officers say at that moment a white SUV pulled onto RDA, stopped and a man jumped out and began shooting.
"I saw this car with a gun sticking out. They shot these three men as they tried to run for their lives, and they just kept on shooting," said Pastor John Vera, who witnessed the shooting.
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A person outside the mall fired back as everyone around them ran for cover.
"I looked down there there was a lot of people standing on the corner, and the next thing you know, it's just a lot of gunshots. I just seen people fall to the ground and a lot of people coming over to help, but I was just so shocked, i didn't know what to do," witness Jabrina Jones said.
Officers say two males and one female were shot. One of the men was shot in the head, according to police. All three victims were taken to local hospitals.
4 people shot outside mall in SW AtlantaBREAKING: NewsChopper 2 shows a very active scene outside The Mall West End, where 3 people were shot. DETAILS: http://2wsb.tv/2nidhHS
Posted by WSB-TV on Friday, March 17, 2017
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