A Fulton County judge on March 3, 2026 ordered that 39-year-old Christopher Loris Ates remain behind bars, denying bond in the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Eboni Anderson outside Palmetto Elementary School on Feb. 10, 2026. The gunfire triggered a hard lockdown at the campus and the temporary relocation of hundreds of students while officers swept the grounds. Ates was arrested later that day after what authorities describe as a high-speed chase and crash, and deputies say a juvenile was found in the vehicle with him.
Judge denies bond as charges stack up
Court officials said Judge Belinda E. Edwards refused to grant bond at a Fulton County hearing, as reported by 11Alive. Jail and court records show Ates has been booked on felony murder, felony aggravated assault and multiple firearm counts, according to CBS Atlanta. Prosecutors are also reviewing possible additional charges tied to the pursuit and alleged child endangerment, according to WJCL.
Warrants and campus video lay out the scene
Investigators say warrants and school surveillance footage show Ates getting out of the passenger side of an SUV, assaulting Anderson and firing multiple shots before leaving the area in her vehicle. Authorities say bags left at the scene contained Ates' Georgia identification, which they credit with helping lead to his arrest, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
High-speed chase ends in Middle Georgia crash
Warner Robins officers later spotted a vehicle tied to the case and gave chase into Middle Georgia, where it crashed on Highway 96 near the Houston-Twiggs county line, police said, per WJCL. Deputies told Atlanta News First the car reached nearly 97 mph before it struck a semi, hit a guardrail and went down an embankment. Ates allegedly ran into the woods before officers took him into custody. Medics evaluated a juvenile found crying in the vehicle, and Houston County officials turned the child over to the county's juvenile division.
School and community in shock
Palmetto Elementary principal Jacqueline Bowens described the shooting as a "domestic dispute" in a letter to families and emphasized that no students or staff were physically harmed, according to reporting by PEOPLE. More than 550 students were escorted to Bear Creek Middle School while counselors and additional support staff were made available. Family members and neighbors have created memorials and launched a GoFundMe to assist Anderson’s children, PEOPLE reported.
What’s next
Ates remains in Fulton County custody as prosecutors finalize additional warrants and review evidence ahead of formal filings, per CBS Atlanta. Court officials told 11Alive that bond was denied in part because of his prior record and the risk he was believed to pose to the community. No new court date had been announced at the time of reporting.
