A young boy was left fighting for his life after a shooting at Rainbow Creek Community Park in Decatur, Georgia, on Thursday morning. The incident happened around 11 a.m. at the park located at 2624 Rainbow Creek Drive. DeKalb County Police officers rushed to the scene and found the boy with a gunshot wound. He was quickly taken to a nearby hospital, where his condition was described as critical.
Police believe the shooting started because of an argument, but they haven’t shared much else about what happened or who might be responsible.
The neighborhood is shaken by the incident. Dexter Smalls, a long-time resident, said he and his wife were at home getting ready to watch the Georgia Bulldogs football game when they heard the shots.
“I heard at least one gunshot, maybe two,” Smalls said. Curious and worried, he stepped outside and saw teenagers running away from the park.
As an educator, Smalls was heartbroken to see such violence in his usually quiet community. “We don’t have things like this happening around here. We’re a close community, so seeing all the police cars and hearing about this was a shock,” he shared.
Police spent hours at the scene, focusing on the basketball courts and parking lot, searching for clues. Officers were also seen combing the area for evidence, and aerial footage captured their investigation in full swing.
“It’s just so sad,” Smalls added. “We don’t know what happened to the kid, but it’s always heartbreaking when young people get caught up in gun violence.”
The boy’s identity has not been released, and no arrests have been made yet. Investigators are asking for help from the public, urging anyone with information to contact the DeKalb County Police Department at (404) 294-2911. People can also share tips anonymously online through the DeKalb Police Tip411 service.
Smalls ended with a hopeful note, saying, “I pray the boy recovers and his family can still find some peace this holiday season.”
This tragedy has left the community shaken, with many hoping for answers and justice soon.