ATLANTA — Atlanta’s City Council summoned the police chief to explain what he’s doing to keep people safe after another weekend of high profile violent crimes.
Chief Rodney Bryant says he is immediately restructuring the police force with two focuses - adding more staff to investigate gun crimes and more staff to the licensing unit to crack down on illegal bars and clubs.
Council president, and mayoral candidate, Felicia Moore called on Bryant to address the council in a virtual meeting Monday.
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“The public certainly wants to hear action and what’s being done, because they are extremely concerned,” Moore told Channel 2 investigative reporter Justin Gray.
Bryant announced he is immediately restructuring the department and hopes the changes will allow the police department to quickly shut down bars and clubs operating illegally after hours.
The moves come after a pair of violent weekend crimes, including the attack of the brother of an NBA star.
Enes Kanter, who plays for the Portland Trailblazers, posted surveillance video of the attack to his instagram account on Sunday night. It shows a man robbing his brother at gunpoint near Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta.
I’m shocked and disgusted.
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) June 6, 2021
My little brother (Ahmet) walking around Atlanta,gets a gun pulled on him,and robbed.
When will we have some normal gun control measures?
This is not okay & not normal.
We need to keep demanding peace & change,and stop putting guns in peoples hands. pic.twitter.com/bH2WYUEwW9
Around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, police responded to reports of a jogger shot on the 1200 block of West Wesley Road. Police found a man in his early 40s with at least one gunshot wound. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was stable.
Shortly afterwards, police responded to reports that a driver shot at two more joggers on the 800 block of West Wesley Road. Those two victims were not hurt.
Gray says the most recent crime data shows shootings in May are up 45 percent from last year.
Bryant says the police department is also working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to help with a growing gun issue.
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