EAST POINT, Ga. — A 24-year-old East Point man was shot and killed after he confronted men who were breaking into his car, family friends told Channel 2 Action News.
Knox Panter was shot and killed early Friday morning at the intersection of Winburn Drive and East Woodland Circle in the Jefferson Park neighborhood.
We’re hearing from the victim’s family, for Channel 2 Action News starting at 4 p.m.
East Point police said that after Panter was shot, the men drove away from the scene in a small, darkly-colored four-door sedan.
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The men have still not been identified or caught.
A friend of the family said that Panter was staying at his grandparents home to help care for them. His truck was parked outside when he heard an odd noise and went out to investigate.
Kelly Pridgen said Panter was shot in the chest. He was taken to Atlanta Medical Center, where he died.
Pridgen said Panter was a childhood cancer survivor. He owned his own tree service company and was a quiet and hard-working kid who was loved by everyone who knew him.
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Neighbors in the area have been complaining about a rash of recent car break-ins in a private group on social media. Several people have posted videos of two people casing the neighborhood and breaking into cars in recent weeks.
Neighbors complained about what they said were near-daily car break-ins at a city council meeting last year, and said they were worried someone was going to get hurt.
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“Sadly, my biggest fear for my neighbors came true this past week,” Chris Jackson wrote. “We need to let City Council know that we will not waver in our demand for making Crime and safety EP’s #1 priority, and also let EPPD know that we support them 100%.”
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact East Point Detectives at 404-761-2177.
Friends and family have set up a GoFundMe to help cover Panter’s funeral expenses. He was self-employed and did not have life insurance, according to the GoFundMe.
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