ATLANTA — A 6-month-old boy has died after he was caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting in northwest Atlanta.
It happened along Anderson Avenue Monday afternoon.
The child’s mother told Channel 2′s Dave Huddleston that the bullet went through her car and hit her son, Grayson Matthew Fleming-Gray, who was sitting in the back seat.
At a news conference Monday, Mayor Andre Dickens said the gun violence needs to end.
“The children are bearing this burden with their lives. I’m here to ask and demand that it stop right now,” Dickens said.
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The shooting scene happened near KIPP Academy. Huddleston spoke with a parent and his daughter who heard the gunshots.
“Our windows were open. We heard originally what we thought were firecrackers, but it turned out to be gunshots,” the child said.
Gov. Brian Kemp shared his condolences for the family, calling it a “unfathomable tragedy.”
The suspects remain on the loose. Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.
Grayson’s family has set up a fundraiser to help pay for his funeral expenses.
Our hearts are broken for the loss of this innocent child. We mourn this unfathomable tragedy tonight with the family. Please join us in keeping them in your hearts & prayers.
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) January 25, 2022
This kind of lawlessness must end, & these criminals must be held accountable.https://t.co/wzD73DEeRk
There have been 12 murders in Atlanta in just the first 24 days of 2022. Monday’s shooting marks the second child below the age of six to die by gun violence.
James Woodall with the Southern Center for Human Rights told Channel 2′s Michele Newell that more must be done to stop violence.
“It’s unfortunate and, quite frankly, it is a demonstration of our lack of willingness to actually address preventative measures that don’t allow those kinds of situations to happen,” he said.
Woodall says he is working to change that.
“We’re doing a lot of advocacy around those preventative anti-violence measures such as ensuring people have guaranteed housing, ensuring that there is high quality education, providing access to nutrition,” Woodall said.
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