Three teenagers were hospitalized after being shot late Saturday night near the Clark Atlanta University campus. The Atlanta Police Department responded to the 500 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive at approximately 11:52 p.m. following reports of gunfire. They arrived to find the victims, aged 17, 18, and 19, with gunshot wounds, as first reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The area, already buzzing with activity due to homecoming weekend festivities, turned into a crime scene, where the officials indicated the teens reported hearing gunshots before sustaining their injuries. All three youths were described as alert and conscious when taken to the hospital, according to 11Alive. The incident punctuated a weekend marred by violence at college campuses, with shootings near Howard University and Lincoln University amidst homecoming celebrations as well.
While the police were investigating the scene around Central United Methodist Church on MLK Jr. Drive, which is used by Clark Atlanta for its music department, no information has been released regarding potential shooters. The location, 547 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive NW, falls between several buildings including the YMCA of Metro Atlanta complex and West Mitchell Street CME Church, as per 11Alive.
Clark Atlanta University has made it clear that the shooting did not occur on its property, nor were the events leading up to it university-sanctioned or sponsored. "Clark Atlanta University is aware of an incident that occurred Sunday morning near the campus. This was not a Clark Atlanta University-sanctioned or sponsored Homecoming event, nor did it occur on university property. All official Clark Atlanta University Homecoming events concluded Saturday evening," the school said in a statement obtained by 11Alive.
