‘The infamous RaceTrac’: Students react after quadruple shooting on campus leaves 2 students injured

ATLANTA — Georgia State University students told Channel 2′s Elizabeth Rawlins they were awoken to the sound of gunfire outside of their dorm room window early Sunday morning.

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Authorities are investigating a shooting that left four people injured, two of them being GSU students.

Atlanta police told Channel 2 Action News officers, along with Georgia State University investigators, were at the RaceTrac near John Wesley Dobbs Avenue and Courtland Street in downtown Atlanta early Sunday morning.

According to police, when officers arrived at the location around 5 a.m. they learned that three of the victims, two females and one male had self-transported themselves to the local hospital. While the fourth victim, a female who was still on the scene was taken to the hospital by EMS.

Police tell Channel 2 Action News the fourth victim was seriously injured.

“The infamous Racetrac,” Nylan Curtis said.

When asked, Curtis said he heard the shots that were fired.

“There were a couple,” he said.

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“We got a notification that the area had been cleared so I thought it was safe to come back,” Maykayla Webster told Channel 2 Action News after receiving an alert from her phone.

Police and GSU President Brian Blake believe the shooting involved a dispute between two groups.

In an email sent to students, Brian Blake, president of GSU stated “four people, two of them being students, were shot at John Wesley Dobbs Avenue and Courtland Street around 5 a.m. after a nearby altercation occurred involving non-GSU individuals who exchanged gunfire.”

The investigation is ongoing.

The following is the statement GSU officials sent to students and staff:

“We were deeply saddened to learn early Sunday, Oct. 29 of a shooting near campus that impacted two Georgia State students. I communicated with the Mayor in addition to our campus leadership, and we are working closely with the Atlanta Police Department (APD) as they conduct their investigation. We are taking immediate action to ensure the safety of all our community by increasing patrols in the area. The safety of the Georgia State community is my top priority and we will continue to work with the APD to identify ways to make areas surrounding our campus more secure.

Four people, two of them students, were shot at John Wesley Dobbs Avenue and Courtland Street around 5 a.m. after a nearby altercation occurred involving non-GSU individuals who exchanged gunfire. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were injured and their families. We will continue to provide updates from the police as we receive additional information.

Counseling services are available 24/7 by calling 404-413-1640 and Student Victim Assistance provides additional resources for students impacted by crime.”

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