A man was left injured after a shooting incident near Georgia State University's campus, a location that has been marred by recent gun violence, sources reveal. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the 25-year-old victim, who was not identified as a student, sustained a gunshot wound to his buttocks before making his way to seek assistance from a nearby university police officer on Saturday night.
The locale where the individual solicited help was at 120 Piedmont Avenue NE, the site of a formerly operative RaceTrac gas station that's witnessed its own share of safety concerns and violent episodes, the establishment recently shuttered its doors due in part to safety issues for staff and the fiscal implications; of violence's scourge, "It's been senseless," Freddrena Wright expressed her dismay, someone who both resides and works in the vicinity told 11Alive, painting a picture of deep community frustration.
The Atlanta Police Department, still in the process of determining the precise location of the shooting, according to 11Alive, took the man to a local hospital, where he was reported to be "alert, conscious, and breathing." The incident adds to a string of violent acts in close proximity to GSU, including a February shooting that claimed the life of a young mother near the same RaceTrac, which has led to a lawsuit from the victim's family.
A student at GSU, Jessica Clarke, gave voice to a sentiment of desensitization that has crept into the daily reality of those nearby, saying "I saw the message they sent last night, but honestly, I ignored it because we get so many messages like that, I just added it to the list," she confessed, revealing a grim acceptance of the status quo in an interview with 11Alive, and though the closure of the RaceTrac was a reactive measure by the city, Clarke noted, "Since the closure, I’ve seen the same number of people.
As police inquiries continue, the public's assistance is sought. Any individual with information regarding this case is encouraged to get in touch with Atlanta Police, offering hope that further details may emerge to aid in the resolution of the latest shooting event cast against the backdrop of urban turmoil.
