CNN
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At least one person was killed and five people were injured in a shootout after an “argument escalated to gunfire” near the Atlantic Station shopping district on Saturday night, police say.
Around 8 p.m., a “group of minors” were escorted off Atlantic Station property by off-duty Atlanta police officers and Atlantic Station personnel, police homicide commander Lt. Germain Dearlove said. of Atlanta, during a press conference.
“They were fired for unruly behavior and also for curfew violation for Atlantic Station,” Dearlove told reporters.
The group moved to 17th Street where the argument occurred and “escalated into gunfire,” Dearlove said.
“We have a deceased male at the scene and multiple victims have been transported to area hospitals,” Dearlove said. “Currently, homicide investigators are on the scene establishing a lead on the case, suspect information and identifying the parties involved.”
Five people are in area hospitals with gunshot wounds, Dearlove said.
While authorities are working to determine the ages of the victims, police “believe they are between 15 and 21,” Dearlove said.
“We are still working to identify and determine what exactly happened,” Dearlove said, adding that it’s possible there were two shooters due to the “between two groups” dispute.
Dearlove would not say where the group was located on the sprawling downtown Atlanta commercial property before its removal, instead referring the matter to Atlantic Station staff.
According to the shopping district’s official website, there is a 3:00 p.m. curfew for everyone under the age of 18, at which time anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and groups of four or more minors “will be dispersed”.
In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson for Atlantic Station said, “Atlantic Station Security is working with APD on this matter and has advised that there are no active threats to the property. Community safety continues. to be our top priority and we are working closely with law enforcement during this active investigation.
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