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Saturday, December 21, 2024

'This is just unbearable pain': Police arrest one of two suspects in shooting of 7-year old girl

Crimescenetape

Atlanta police have charged one man in connection with the shooting death of 7-year-old Ava Phillips and are still seeking another suspect in a shooting that took place at an apartment complex in the city's Sweet Auburn neighborhood Saturday night. | Pixabay

Atlanta police have charged one man in connection with the shooting death of 7-year-old Ava Phillips and are still seeking another suspect in a shooting that took place at an apartment complex in the city's Sweet Auburn neighborhood Saturday night. | Pixabay

Atlanta police have charged one man in connection with the shooting death of 7-year-old Ava Phillips and are still seeking another suspect in a shooting that took place at an apartment complex in the city's Sweet Auburn neighborhood Saturday night.

According to a recent report by FOX 5 Atlanta, police say the young girl was struck in the head by a stray bullet late Saturday night at the height of an argument that escalated into gunfire at a family gathering inside Camden Vantage apartments.

"Any death is tragic but when there's a child involved, it really hits home," Deputy Chief Charles Hampton Jr. told FOX 5 Atlanta.

Investigators have identified the two suspects as 23-year-old Deshon Collins and 44-year-old Kemeka Springfield, with the latter having been taken into custody on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. An active manhunt is underway for Collins, who faces charges of murder, cruelty towards children, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, FOX 5 reports.

Grief-stricken family members gathered Sunday evening to comfort one another in the wake of the tragedy, where Jonathan Phillips described his young daughter as the "boss" of their family and said she loved to travel and try new restaurants, the report states.

"This is just unbearable pain… the worst thing imaginable," Ava’s father, Jonathan Phillips told FOX 5. “Love and cherish your kids. She was 7. She would’ve been 8 in January.”

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