During a Monday press conference, Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that police believe that three deaths of homeless people in the city are linked.
The first killing shooting happened on June 1 close to an overpass by Baker-Highland Connector and Piedmont Avenue, at around 1:40 p.m. Someone shot and killed 45-year-old Timothy Terrill Smith, who occasionally sleeps in the area.
The second shooting happened on June 11 or June 12 at around 9:40 p.m. an overpass near I-20 and Windsor Street. Someone shot and killed 56-year-old Curtis Cockrell.
On Monday morning, close to the intersection of Pryor Road and Rawson Streets in Atlanta, someone shot a woman while she was inside a tent. The victim’s identity has not yet been released.
According to police, most of the victims were shot multiple times. AJC reports that Isidro Rivera, who was with a crew working across the street, said he heard five to 10 gunshots coming from the area of the woman’s tent.
“It was a close range,” Rivera said. “Real close.”
The suspect has been described as a black male who stands around 5-foot-10-inches to 6-feet tall and weighs anywhere from 170 to 200 pounds. He had on a dark ball cap, long-sleeved white t-shirt, and dark jeans. He was carrying a drawstring backpack.
Although it’s unclear why authorities think the shootings are related, each victim had similar circumstances. All three were homeless, asleep during the attack, and shot to death.
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
