A drive-by shooting in Atlanta’s Mechanicsville neighborhood left three people injured on Saturday afternoon, according to local law enforcement. The incident occurred around 5:20 p.m. near the intersection of Richardson and Windsor Streets, adjacent to the Dunbar Neighborhood Center, a hub for youth and social services programs.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the assailant, driving a dark-colored sedan, opened fire at the intersection, injuring two women and a man. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, with authorities yet to determine whether it was a targeted attack or a random act of violence that broke out. All three of the victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, and they were suffering from injuries that were not life-threatening.
The shooting incident occurred on a day when the community was set to celebrate Mechanicsville Day, a local event that was abruptly halted due to the violence. Residents who spoke to the media expressed their shock, with many initially mistaking the gunshots for firecrackers.
Among those present at the scene was Ayanna Pascoe, a Mechanicsville native who had taken the day off work to participate in the community event. Pascoe, who had planned to distribute treats during the celebration, expressed her concern about the potential danger to children who could have been present during the shooting.
Pascoe also revealed a personal connection to one of the victims, a woman in her 60s whom she affectionately calls “Cyn”, short for Cynthia. The police have yet to confirm the identities of the victims. Pascoe expressed her distress over the incident, emphasizing the vulnerability of the elderly victim.
The shooting also resulted in property damage, with at least two vehicles near the Winsor SuperMarket hit by stray bullets, causing shattered windows and flattened tires. The store owner confirmed that while the exterior of the store was damaged, the interior remained untouched. A man in his sixties reported that one of the bullets pierced his windshield as he was driving past the scene, although he escaped unharmed.