Teen found shot multiple times near skating rink dies, GA cops say. ‘Devastating loss’
A 13-year-old boy died after he was found shot multiple times near a skating rink in Georgia, officials said.
Police launched a homicide investigation into the death of the teen, which rattled the Adamsville neighborhood, west of downtown Atlanta.
“To see this type of violence is deeply disturbing,” City Councilwoman Andrea L. Boone wrote in an online statement. “Any loss of life is felt in our community, but for such a young boy to fall victim to this here, it is very tragic.”
The shooting was reported Jan. 21 along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southwest. It happened near the Cascade skating rink, but the teen wasn’t shot in its parking lot, police told McClatchy News in an email.
“This type of violence is especially abnormal for this area,” Boone said in her statement. “The skating rink has in many ways been a safe haven for families.”
Police said they “believe the victim was at the skating rink” before the shooting. Officers were called just before 11:30 p.m. and found the teen with several gunshot wounds, according to a preliminary news release.
The 13-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office identified him as Deshon DuBose of Atlanta, according to WSB-TV.
Deshon attended Drew Charter School, where counselors and other support will be made available to students and workers. In an emailed statement, the school told McClatchy News the teen is remembered for “his beautiful smile, quick wit, and charming personality.”
Peter McKnight, the head of school, sent a letter to families saying the “devastating loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school community, especially our students and staff,” WXIA reported.
Police in their news release didn’t list a suspect but said an investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office didn’t immediately share additional information with McClatchy News on Jan. 23.
This story was originally published January 23, 2023 at 6:59 AM with the headline "Teen found shot multiple times near skating rink dies, GA cops say. ‘Devastating loss’."
