Late Wednesday night, near the State Farm Arena, an 18-year-old man was fatally shot during an argument over T-shirt sales after a Creed concert. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, two groups entered into a dispute regarding parking for the purpose to sell merchandise, which quickly escalated into violence. The deceased, identified as Dexter Devaughn Hoefer Savage Jr., suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
The shooting occurred on Nassau Street just off Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW, with the scene cordoned off by crime scene tape between SkyView Atlanta and Ted Turner Drive NW. Officers were called around 10:12 p.m. and upon arrival, found Savage with gunshot injuries. "It appears there was an argument over parking in order to sell T-shirts from the concert," Lt. Andrew Smith of the Atlanta Police Homicide unit explained in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Efforts to gather evidence were promptly made by police, who canvassed the area to collect surveillance footage and witness statements. The authorities, however, have not yet released any information about suspects in the case. The Atlanta News First reports that the argument appeared to only involve one of the groups using firearms. No arrests have been made thus far as the investigation continues.
As Atlanta braces for a large influx of sports fans for the weekend events, the city is also dealing with the aftermath of this act of violence. In response, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum assured that the police force is ready for the crowds. "All of our downtown precincts are on 12-hour shifts," Chief Schierbaum said to FOX 5 Atlanta. "We have strategic patrols that will be moving in areas that we know citizens will be moving from the MARTA stations, the hotels, over to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the parking areas. We also have undercover teams that are moving about, looking for individuals that may be trying to cause harm. We're looking for scams that are going on around selling illegal merchandise in the gypsy lots that may be popping up, and we're patrolling those thoroughfares with our air unit, our canines and other resources as well."
The Atlanta Police Department urges anyone who might have information relevant to this investigation to come forward.
