A grisly discovery in DeKalb County has left the community shaken as a 17-year-old boy named James Smith was found dead, resulting from a gunshot wound in an area of woods near an apartment complex. His body was discovered Thursday morning, near the Reserve at Hairston Lake Apartments, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.

The DeKalb County Police responded to the gruesome scene after a 9:30 a.m. alert about someone shot at the 1000 block of North Hairston Road, according to 11Alive. Nearby resident Monica McNeal expressed her terror, "It’s very scary and makes you not want to go out," she said, adding the urgency, "It’s a shame you can’t walk out and do daily things today, there’s all this shooting going on."

The teen's death is being investigated as a homicide, while the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office officially identified the victim as James Smith. Distraught by the violence, McNeal, in an interview with 11Alive, pleaded with the community, saying, "Put the guns down because it’s too much, too many of us leaving here today, especially our teenagers. 'Please put the guns down in Jesus name, Amen.'"

Smith's tragic death is speculated to be linked to a previous dispute with "unknown persons,” as per officials. No arrests have been announced at this stage of the investigation. Speaking to FOX 5 Atlanta, McNeal emphasized that too often it is the teenagers who fall victim to such senseless violence, "They’re not living to have families, and children and living to our age. The kids are leaving before us."

A representative for Smith's family conveyed to FOX 5 the family's profound grief over their unforeseen loss. As the investigation is ongoing, officials urge anyone with information connected to Smith's death to contact the detectives at (770) 724-7850.