Police: 'Bird Scooter' rider shot dead in front of Downtown motel

ATLANTA - Atlanta Police Monday afternoon rolled a scooter down the street and put it into an evidence van. Officers were not investigating an accident, but instead, it was a murder.

At mid-afternoon Monday, authorities said the unidentified rider was confronted by someone inside a red Mercedes SUV. There was a brief exchange on Pine Street near Courtland Avenue in Downtown Atlanta. Police told FOX 5 Atlanta the victim was riding a ‘Bird’ electric scooter on the sidewalk in front of the motel at the location.

Whatever might have been said, the driver did an abrupt U-turn, drove up to the victim and fired a single shot. The victim attempted to get away on foot but collapsed within a few feet.

The victim was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital. Doctors could not save him. Investigators apparently ha very little to go on regarding what sparked the back and forth.

Police did not immediately have a tag number on the red vehicle. They will review street surveillance cameras to get more information.

Officials have not released the identity of the victim and any possible suspects.