ATLANTA, Georgia – A 43-year-old woman was killed and two others were hospitalized Monday afternoon after she was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between two groups outside the Little Bear Food Mart in the Lakewood Heights neighborhood.
Atlanta Police Department officers responded to the scene at 1660 Jonesboro Road SE around 12:18 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Investigators determined that a physical fight had broken out near the back door of the store roughly 20 minutes earlier, which quickly escalated into gunfire.
A department spokesperson confirmed that two groups exchanged gunshots, striking multiple bystanders who were not involved in the altercation.
“We have been able to determine they were all innocent victims standing by in the parking lot,” the spokesperson said in a briefing.
A 43-year-old woman, who police believe was unhoused and living in the vicinity, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other victims, a man and a woman both in their mid- to late-40s, were transported to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. Their current conditions have not been released.
The spokesperson described the incident as “an escalating dispute between known parties stemming from some kind of disrespect that happened out here.” He noted that while the details remain “a little ambiguous,” investigators are working to locate several persons of interest.
Despite the violence, authorities believe the shooting was an isolated incident.
“We do not believe this poses a further risk to the community,” residents were assured.
The Little Bear Food Mart has been the site of multiple violent incidents over recent years, including shooting fatalities in 2020, 2023, and 2024. The investigation into Monday’s shooting remains active and ongoing.