Current:Home > FinanceShooting at a Walmart south of Atlanta left 1 dead and a girl wounded. Suspect is on the run. -Elevate Money Guide
Shooting at a Walmart south of Atlanta left 1 dead and a girl wounded. Suspect is on the run.
TradeEdge Exchange View
Date:2025-04-10 15:22:27
A manhunt is underway for a male suspect who police say was responsible for a Friday shooting inside a Walmart in Georgia that left one person dead and a 9-year-old girl wounded, police say.
The second instance of fatal violence inside a Walmart within a week in the United States, the shooting was reported around 10 p.m. local time at a store in Fayetteville, located 22 miles south of Atlanta, according to the city's public safety department. A 19-year-old man was the target of the shooting, while the child was merely a bystander hit by a stray bullet, police said.
Both victims were transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment, where the 19 year old, identified as Antavius Holton of Riverdale, Georgia, was pronounced dead. The girl's injuries were not life-threatening, police said in a Saturday update on Facebook.
Investigators quickly identified a 19-year-old man named Adrian Jelks as the suspected gunman and initiated a search to arrest him on charges of murder and aggravated assault, according to the Fayetteville public safety department.
Detroit blues club shooting:5 injured in shooting over a parking spot dispute, police say
Police release photo of suspect; arrest suspected accomplice
Fayetteville police released a photo of a man they identified as Jelks within hours of the shooting.
By the time police responded to the Walmart, Jelks had already fled the scene in a vehicle that investigators later found abandoned. It's unclear where Jelks may be, but police warned the public that he is still believed to be armed and to call 911 if they encounter him.
Fayetteville Police Chief Scott Gray had no new information to share when reached Monday morning by USA TODAY.
A 19-year-old woman who is suspected of being an accomplice in the shooting was arrested by Saturday morning, police said. Sandra Romero-Nunez of Fayetteville was charged on suspicion of being a party to murder and aggravated assault, police said.
Shooting comes after fatal stabbing at Illinois Walmart days earlier
The shooting comes days after an 18-year-old Walmart employee was killed March 24 at a northern Illinois store in a stabbing attack.
Investigators said the victim was working inside the Walmart at the time of the attack, which occurred in Rockford, about 17 miles south of the Wisconsin state line. A 28-year-old man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, according to the Winnabego County District Attorney's Office.
While police said the Georgia shooting was not believed to be random, it was unclear what Jelks' suspected motive was for the attack.
“We're heartbroken by what happened in our Fayetteville store Friday night and extend our sympathies to the loved ones of those involved," Walmart said in a Monday statement provided to USA TODAY. "We are working with law enforcement to assist them in any way we can as they investigate.”
Shoppers told Atlanta News First that they were initially confused by the commotion Friday until they learned what had happened.
“This isn’t usually something that happens in this community,” Rhonda Cason told the news station. “It’s usually a quiet community. So, this is really unusual for us.”
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]
veryGood! (457)
Related
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Kim Kardashian's SKIMS Drops 4 Midnight Kiss-Worthy New Year's Eve Collections
- Luke Combs, Post Malone announced as 2024 IndyCar Race Weekend performers
- Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney lovingly spoof Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' single cover
- Bodycam footage shows high
- Putin ratchets up military pressure on Ukraine as he expects Western support for Kyiv to dwindle
- Playing live, ‘Nutcracker’ musicians bring unseen signature to holiday staple
- Group turned away at Mexican holiday party returned with gunmen killing 11, investigators say
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- Monsanto ordered to pay $857 million to Washington school students and parent volunteers over toxic PCBs
Ranking
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Give the Gift of Travel This Holiday Season With Rare Deals on Away Luggage
- UCLA gymnast Chae Campbell hits viral floor routine inspired by Wakanda in 'Black Panther'
- UN resolution on Gaza hampered by issues important to US: cessation of hostilities and aid monitors
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- 20-year-old wins Miss France beauty pageant with short hair: Why her win sparked debate
- UN Security Council in intense negotiations on Gaza humanitarian resolution, trying to avoid US veto
- 13,000 people watched a chair fall in New Jersey: Why this story has legs (or used to)
Recommendation
The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
Kim Kardashian's SKIMS Drops 4 Midnight Kiss-Worthy New Year's Eve Collections
Defense secretary to hold meeting on reckless, dangerous attacks by Houthis on commercial ships in Red Sea
Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas' tops Billboard's Hot 100 for fifth year in a row
IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
The EU’s naval force says a cargo ship hijacked last week has moved toward the coast of Somalia
Judge blocks removal of Confederate memorial from Arlington Cemetery, for now
5 people crushed after SUV topples over doing donuts in Colorado Springs, driver charged