ATLANTA — Atlanta's police chief is amping up her promise to curb a recent string of increased violence at one of Atlanta's premier shopping locations, Lenox Square.
It comes after several "brazen" shootings on the mall's property within the last few months, which culminated over the weekend in a deadly shooting over a parking spot, according to police.
"We will not, under any circumstances, allow lawlessness to destroy one of Atlanta’s most beloved and long-standing retail institutions," Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields promised.
Sunday's shooting is the fourth shooting at Lenox in mere months, and the first to turn deadly.
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The first happened last year during the peak of the holiday shopping rush, on Dec. 21, in a parking garage. There, a Macy's employee was shot while being robbed.
Then, on Jan. 18, an officer shot a man who appeared to be robbing another at gunpoint in a different parking garage. It later turned out that the man who was shot had actually been robbed by the man he was seen holding at gunpoint.
In February, a man was shot during what police described as a botched drug deal in the parking lot outside of Bloomingdales.
After Sunday's incident, police detained one person but later let them go, without charges, after determining they were not responsible for the shooting. No other suspects are in custody at the time, but police are still looking for three persons of interest related to the shooting. They released surveillance images, Monday, in hopes of tracking them down.
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Photos: Persons of interest - Lenox Square mall shooting
"APD has made arrests in all three previous shootings that have occurred on mall property since December, and I’m confident an arrest will be made in Sunday’s murder," Shields said.
In her statement, Shields said they have already met with the property manager for the mall in efforts to develop a "comprehensive approach" to security. While Shields said some "positive steps" were taken, "more needs to be done," Shields said.
Read her full response below:
Sunday’s fatal shooting at Lenox Square continues to show a level of brazenness and disregard for the law that is deeply concerning. These violent acts are happening in broad daylight, and with increased police presence already in place at the mall. Prior to Sunday’s incident, we had met with Simon Property Group (managers of Lenox Square) representatives in an effort to improve security. Some positive steps were taken, but more needs to be done. Simon’s involvement in developing a comprehensive approach to security is critical to our success. Department leaders will be meeting again this afternoon to determine what further resources APD can provide to assist in providing more presence at the mall. We will not, under any circumstances, allow lawlessness to destroy one of Atlanta’s most beloved and long-standing retail institutions. APD has made arrests in all three previous shootings that have occurred on mall property since December, and I’m confident an arrest will be made in Sunday’s murder. These incidents have our full attention.
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