In less than 24 hours, a second shooting has been reported at a DeKalb County shopping center, raising concerns among residents and prompting an intensive search for suspects. Authorities confirmed that the latest incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at approximately 3:34 p.m. at a plaza located in the 1100 block of South Hairston Road.
According to the DeKalb County Police Department, the incident began when a vehicle pulled into the shopping center. Several individuals exited the vehicle and opened fire. In the hail of bullets, at least one shot penetrated a nearby restaurant, striking a person inside.
Another individual was injured by shattered glass during the incident. Both victims were transported to a local hospital, with police reporting that one sustained moderate gunshot wounds and the other suffered injuries from flying debris.
After the shooting, the suspects attempted to flee the scene but were involved in a crash near the shopping center. Following the accident, the individuals abandoned their vehicle and ran into a wooded area nearby. Law enforcement officials quickly launched a search operation in an effort to track down and apprehend the suspects. As of Saturday evening, they remained at large.
This violent episode came just one day after a separate shooting at the same location, around the same time of day. On Friday afternoon, three people were shot in what investigators believe started as an argument. A man in his 20s was critically injured and rushed to the hospital, while two others—one in his 20s and the other in his 40s—suffered moderate injuries. Police said the Friday shooting involved multiple vehicles and caused damage to at least two businesses in the plaza.
The back-to-back shootings have alarmed residents and business owners in the area, many of whom are now calling for increased police presence and security at the shopping center. The DeKalb County Police Department has not released the names of any victims or suspects in either case and emphasized that both investigations are ongoing.
At this point, no suspects have been identified, and authorities have not determined if the two shootings are related. Investigators are working diligently to piece together the circumstances and motives behind each event. They are reviewing surveillance footage, collecting witness statements, and analyzing forensic evidence from the scenes.
In the wake of the incidents, DeKalb County Police are urging the public to come forward with any information that could assist the investigation. Anyone who witnessed either shooting or has knowledge of the suspects’ identities or whereabouts is encouraged to contact authorities. Tips can be submitted anonymously through the Tip411 app or by texting “DKPD” to 847411 followed by the information.
These violent occurrences have heightened concerns over public safety in the area and sparked renewed conversations about gun violence in communities across DeKalb County. Police are expected to increase patrols in the area in the coming days as the investigations continue.
