A tragic event disrupted what should have been a celebration in Snellville, as a woman was fatally shot at a graduation party Saturday afternoon, according to the Gwinnett County Police Department. Responding to several 911 calls around 7:30 p.m., authorities arrived at the Queens Event Venue, located at 3541 Stone Mountain Highway, to find that the suspect was already being restrained by witnesses at the scene. Atlanta News First reported that the woman was pronounced dead on arrival by the officers.
While the relationship between the shooter and the victim was not immediately clear, police confirmed that the two knew each other. The nature of their acquaintance and details surrounding the shooting have yet to be disclosed. According to reports obtained by WSB-TV, the suspect was taken into custody and escorted to police headquarters for questioning. There has been no information released on whether the shooting was premeditated or spur-of-the-moment, as investigators continue their work to unravel the motive.
The identity of the victim, described only as "middle-aged," along with that of the suspect, remains undisclosed as the investigation proceeds. The owner of the event venue expressed to Atlanta News First that his staff was not present when the incident occurred, indicating that the dispute was between family members.
It remains uncertain whether the graduation event was for a high school or a college, as the event was still underway when the shooting took place. The Gwinnett County Police have reached out to the public for any additional information regarding the incident. Witnesses and those with knowledge pertinent to the case are encouraged to contact the Gwinnett County police at 770-513-5300 or to approach Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477), where tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward if the information they provide leads to an arrest and indictment.
