A $15,000 reward is being offered for information on who fatally shot a teenage girl and wounded another in crowded Piedmont Park on Saturday night.
During a Monday morning press conference flanked by Atlanta Police officers, Mayor Andre Dickens said he had spoken to the parents of Tianah Robinson, 16, who was killed in the park shooting. He said Robinson, who was a student at North Clayton High School, was in the park with her mother, enjoying the holiday weekend.
APD Maj. Peter Malecki said investigators are searching for four males who discharged firearms in the park around 9 p.m. on Saturday. He said Robinson and the wounded 15-year-old, who has since been released from the hospital, appear to have been caught in the crossfire between the four suspects.
“At this point, we don’t know if the suspects were targeting someone or just randomly shooting,” Malecki said, noting that park surveillance cameras and body-worn cameras by officers in the park are being reviewed as part of the investigation. Footage from a park camera was posted to APD’s social media showing persons of interest in the case.
Anyone who has information can contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta and can remain anonymous.
Dickens emphasized that the Piedmont Park incident was not connected to the 404 Day Festival, which he said concluded earlier in the evening. He said that there were more than 20 police officers and private security in the park for the event.
“Crime has been down in our city, and we haven’t had a weekend like this in quite a long time,” Dickens said. “Four years ago, there had already been 48 homicides by April. There’s only been 17 so far this year.”
The shooting in Piedmont Park was just one of eight that took place from the evening of April 3 to the night of April 5.
Dickens said the convergence of Easter weekend, 404 Day, and eight school systems in the metro area on spring break brought an unprecedented number of visitors into the city.
“There are 600,000 students on spring break right now, so we had a lot of visitors to the city,” Dickens said. “Unfortunately, some folks decided to turn their disagreements into violence.”
Dickens said hours were being increased at the city’s At Promise centers for youth and at local recreation centers to offer kids and teens activities. He encouraged parents to visit ATLyearoftheyouth.com for more details.
The mayor said APD will also increase patrols, and charges will be brought against parents and guardians if minors are in violation of the city’s curfew. The curfew for those 16 and younger is 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 6 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
“We will ask the city council to provide additional resources for youth engagement and expand efforts to increase and improve neighborhood safety,” Dickens pledged.
On Sunday night, four teenagers aged 16-18 were shot on Sparks Street in Southwest Atlanta, with one in critical condition at Grady Hospital. APD investigators said they believe the incident stemmed from a fight following a birthday party that was shut down. A large group of students gathered near Sparks and Lee Streets, where the shooting occurred.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, Atlanta Police officers responded to a report of a person shot near the 900 block of Washington St. SW. Upon arriving at the scene, officers located a 3-year-old who had been shot in the head. Maj. Malecki said the mother had left the child with a 17-year-old babysitter while she went to work. The investigation as to what transpired is ongoing, Malecki said.
Five other shootings over the busy Easter holiday weekend left people injured and remain under investigation.
Also in the early morning hours of Sunday, officers found two men aged 25 and 30 with gunshot wounds at 431 Edgewood Ave.
On Sunday afternoon, officers responded to a report of a person shot at 921 Highland View NE in Virginia-Highland, where a father shot his 15-year-old son during a dispute over the son’s drug usage.
On Saturday night, an 18-year-old male was found shot at 495 Magnolia St. NW and was transported to the hospital for treatment. Malecki said it appears that the wound was self-inflicted when the teen accidentally fired the gun he was carrying in his pants.
Also on Saturday afternoon, a report of gunfire brought officers to 803 Lakeside Village Dr. SE. Upon arriving on the scene, officers were notified that possible victims and suspects had already fled the scene. Shortly after, officers were notified that a person with a gunshot wound had arrived at Grady Hospital by private vehicle. The victim refused to provide responding officers with any information regarding how he sustained his injury.
And on Friday night, officers responded to Old Fourth Ward Skate Park, where they found a 25-year-old male victim who had sustained an apparent gunshot wound during a dispute.
District 10 Atlanta City Councilmember and Chair of the Public Safety Committee Andrea L. Boone released this statement on Monday morning following the weekend of violence:
“As the Councilmember of District 10 and Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I am saddened by the deadly wave of gun violence that struck Atlanta over Easter weekend, including the tragic death of a 16 year-old teen in Piedmont Park and the devastating death of a 3 year-old on Washington Street SW, as well as six other incidents that left several people injured. This is a devastating reminder of the trauma too many families are forced to endure. Public safety requires coordinated, sustained efforts that address the root causes of violence and ensure transparency and responsibility across all levels of response. Our faith‑based community continues to be one of our strongest partners in this work. Their commitment to healing, mentorship, and community support plays a vital role in restoring hope, strengthening families, and creating safe spaces for our young people. When faith leaders and congregations mobilize alongside civic and community partners, we create a powerful network of care, guidance, and prevention. We must prioritize prevention, support, and meaningful opportunities, so young people are guided toward stability, hope, and positive futures. By working together with urgency and intention, including our faith‑based partners, we can help ensure that our youth are protected, empowered, and able to thrive in a safer, stronger Atlanta.”
