Police said the 16-year-old may have been a third victim in a July 4 shooting that also wounded two men.
ATLANTA, Ga. — Atlanta police are investigating after a 16-year-old boy was found dead July 6 near Washington Street SW, two days after officers responded to a Fourth of July shooting that wounded two adult men.
The Atlanta Police Department said homicide investigators took over the case after a follow-up search found the teen dead from an apparent gunshot wound. Police said the shooting was first reported at about 10:07 p.m. July 4 near 999 Washington St. SW. Officers found two men, ages 26 and 27, with apparent gunshot wounds. Both were alive when they were taken for medical treatment.
The case began as a holiday weekend shooting call in southwest Atlanta. Police said Zone 3 officers went to the area after receiving a report of a person shot. At first, officers found only the two adult victims. The department said both men were “alert, conscious, and breathing” when officers arrived. Investigators later returned to the area as they continued checking the scene and looking for evidence. On July 6, police said they determined the shooting may have had a third victim. Officers canvassed Washington Street SW and found the 16-year-old dead nearby.
Police have not released the teen’s name. They also have not released the names of the two men who survived the shooting. Officials have not said whether the teen was found in a yard, near a building, beside the street or in another specific location along Washington Street SW. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office would normally be responsible for confirming the teen’s cause and manner of death, but police described the injury as an apparent gunshot wound. No arrests had been announced as of Wednesday, July 8, and police had not named any suspects.
The shooting happened during a busy Fourth of July night, when fireworks and other noise can make it harder for residents to know what they are hearing. One neighbor told Atlanta News First that the sounds did not immediately register as gunfire because fireworks were going off at the same time. The neighbor said the danger became clear the next day after seeing bullet holes and a bullet lodged in a wall. “We didn’t know,” the neighbor said. “We didn’t think of it about it at the time.”
The area near Washington Street SW sits in south Atlanta, within the police department’s Zone 3 coverage area. The neighborhood includes homes, roads, small businesses and routes that connect to other parts of the city. A shooting that begins as an injury call can become a homicide case when another victim is later found or when a wounded person dies. In this case, police said the teen’s death appears tied to the July 4 shooting, but investigators have not publicly explained how the three victims were connected or what led to the gunfire.
Police said the information released so far is preliminary and could change as new facts come to light. That warning is common in the early stage of a homicide investigation, especially when detectives are still reviewing evidence, checking video, interviewing witnesses and comparing accounts from the scene. The department said its Homicide Unit is leading the investigation. Detectives are expected to continue working to determine where the teen was shot, how long he had been in the area before he was found and whether more than one shooter was involved.
The delay between the first shooting call and the discovery of the teen is now a central part of the investigation. Officers responded July 4 and found two wounded men. Two days later, investigators returned and found the 16-year-old. Police have not said whether officers searched the same exact area on the night of the shooting or whether the teen was in a spot that was hidden from view. They also have not said whether the two surviving victims were able to speak with investigators or provide details about what happened before the shooting.
The neighbor who spoke with Atlanta News First described the shooting as unusual for the area. The neighbor said there is activity in the neighborhood but said this incident felt more serious than what residents normally see. “There is a lot of great stuff happening in this neighborhood, and we hate to see stuff like this happen,” the neighbor said. The comments reflected the unease that followed the discovery of the teen and the realization that the July 4 shooting had likely been more serious than first known.
The investigation remained open Wednesday. Police had not reported charges, a motive or a suspect description. The next major step is expected to be an update from homicide detectives or the release of the teen’s identity after family notification and medical examiner review.
Author note: Last updated July 8, 2026.