A daytime dispute inside an Atlanta McDonald's turned deadly when a 19-year-old woman allegedly opened fire, killing another female patron on Wednesday. T’Niya Evans was arrested and faces multiple charges including murder following the fatal shooting that claimed the life of Tamanika Woods, a mother of four in her 30's.
Officers responded to the scene on Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. just before 2:45 p.m after reports of gunfire. The altercation escalated quickly, leading Evans to allegedly use a stolen firearm to shoot Woods. WSBTV.com reported that the weapon was confirmed to have been stolen from a car parked in a downtown parking garage, some five miles from the McDonald’s establishment. The investigation is ongoing, but police did not confirm whether Evans was directly involved in the theft of the gun she's accused of using.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Woods, between 30 and 35 years old. She was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition but succumbed to her injuries. A friend of the victim told Atlanta News First that Woods was a "great person" and "very sweet. A family-oriented young lady" and that she will be "missed".
It was revealed that no children were present in the fast-food chain during the incident. Following the shooting, customers inside the McDonald’s were able to hold down the suspected shooter until the police arrived at the scene. The store has since been reopened. WSBTV.com quoted Major Peter Malecki emphasizing the need for gun owners to be more responsible with their firearms, especially in an attempt to, "please, stop, stop, stop, leaving these firearms in cars."
As Evans is currently being held in the Fulton County Jail, local McDonald’s owner and operator Rachel Mitchell expressed her distress over the incident to WB, WSBTV stating, “We are deeply upset by the senseless act of violence that took place at our West End location yesterday. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.” Evans is charged with murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and theft by receiving stolen property, raising further questions about the origins of the weapon used in such a brazen daytime crime.
