Fight inside Austell cellphone store erupts into gunfire, 2 injured
AUSTELL, Ga. - Austell Road near Perkerson Mill Road was swarmed by police officers on Friday after a reported double shooting. Investigators were combing through two separate shopping centers which Austell police say are linked to the same crime.
It happened around 3 p.m. in the 5200 block of Austell Road. According to the Austell Police Department, an argument between three teens started inside the PHONE RUSH + IPHONE REPAIR store located in a strip mall just south of Perkerson Road.
A man who was at the repair store at the time of the violent episode says the suspects initially got their phones repaired.
"No argument or nothing. I felt like the suspect was trying to steal whatever the victim had, and he just pulled the out the gun on the victim," he said.
The fight spilled out into the parking lot, where shots were fired. The dispute ended a block north in the parking lot of Austell Plaza.
When the police reached the victim, he was able to tell officers who shot him.
"We did get information in reference to the suspects. Officers canvassed the area, at which time we did apprehend two suspects involved in the shooting. Both have been apprehended. One of the suspects had been shot, and he has been taken to the hospital," Austell Police Captain Schemika Curtis said.
It was not clear how many shots were fired or by whom, but two people were injured. It also is not known how many guns were involved.
Further details were not immediately available as the investigators worked to piece together the sequence of events.
FOX 5 spotted one person being led away in handcuffs. Police have not released the identity of that person, but say two people were taken into custody.
The sister of the victim revealed to FOX 5 her 15-year-old brother was one of those involved. She says the South Cobb High School student was also injured.
"That scared me. I was thinking he was gonna die. I was just like panicking. I was rushing here. Hoping that he is good and everything," she said.
Officers worked well into the evening collecting evidence, canvassing the area for witnesses, and reviewing surveillance video.
The conditions of those involved have not been released.
The Cobb County Police Department assisted in the investigation.