OLD FOURTH WARD — One man is dead and another is in critical condition following a barrage of bullets at the North Plaza strip center near the intersection of North Avenue and Boulevard late Monday evening.
"Zone 6 officers responded to a gambling call at 628 Boulevard NE. When the officers arrived on scene they heard gunshots from the direction of 455 North Avenue," Atlanta Police Department spokeswoman Officer Kim Jones said.
"A black male ran to the officers with a gunshot wound to the torso. That male was transported to Grady Memorial hospital where he is listed in critical condition."
A second victim was transported from the intersection of Boulevard and North Avenue by Grady EMS to the Atlanta Medical Center where he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the torso, she said.
Lt. Paul Guerrucci, the APD's homicide unit commander, told WSB TV that many people fled the parking lot as “at least 20 shots were fired” during the incident, which occurred at 10:05 p.m.
It is not known if the men shot were the intended targets or were just caught up in the crossfire. Police believe there were two gunmen who opened fired, but that the shootings were not thought to be connected with the gambling.
No arrests have been made at this time.
A pre-dawn visit to the crime scene, located on the southwest corner of North and Boulevard at 455 North, revealed a quiet parking lot where only hours before had been the scene to chaos that ended deadly.
Shattered glass was still on the sidewalk outside the coin laundry, while an investigative evidence marker indicated where a bullet hit another laundry window.
The plaza is anchored by the Family Dollar and is also home to a Sherwin Williams and Wings & Subs restaurant. Patch has reached out to APD for further information.
This is a developing story and check back with East Atlanta Patch for updates.
