Instead of waking up to birthday plans and senior-year milestones, a Carver High School student opened her eyes in a hospital bed.
Family members say 18-year-old Raven Brown was shot while she slept inside her Southwest Atlanta home when bullets ripped through the house on McDaniel Street the night before her 18th birthday. The Carver High senior was left with a broken shoulder, multiple broken ribs and a damaged lung, and one bullet is still lodged in her chest near a major artery. With no suspect information and no clear motive, her family says they have no leads and are pleading with anyone who knows something to contact Atlanta police.
Mother Says Teen Is 'Very Traumatized'
Brown's mother, Nora Houston, has been keeping loved ones updated on her daughter's condition through a GoFundMe page and in interviews with local media. She said doctors decided it was too risky to remove the bullet because of how close it sits to a major artery.
Houston told reporters the shot that hit Raven came through the wall of the home and that her daughter is "very traumatized and in a lot of pain." Those details, along with the family's public appeal for help, were reported by Atlanta News First.
Victim: 'I Thank God Every Morning'
Brown, who plays tennis, flag football and softball at Carver High, told Channel 2 she had been streaming on Instagram just before the chaos unfolded. Moments later, she said, she felt a sudden, sharp pain as gunfire erupted and then collapsed before being rushed to the hospital.
"I thank God every morning for me waking up," she said, reflecting on how close she came to not seeing her 18th birthday at all. Officers recovered shell casings at the scene on McDaniel Street, according to WSB‑TV.
Police, Neighbors Still Searching For Answers
Neighbors and relatives said home security cameras in the area did not capture the shooter, leaving investigators with little to work with. Houston said "they don't have any leads right now," and the family is clinging to the hope that someone who heard or saw something will decide to come forward.
Authorities and the family are asking anyone with information to contact Atlanta police, a call for help that has been highlighted in coverage by Atlanta News First.
Support And Recovery
The family has created a GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical bills and recovery costs as Raven remains at Grady Memorial Hospital receiving treatment. Friends, classmates and community members have been sending messages of support while they wait for word on both her condition and the stalled investigation, according to WSB‑TV.
