Police said 18-year-old Daquaviyan Whatley was shot after an argument inside a home as investigators work to determine what sparked the violence.
ATLANTA, GA — An 18-year-old remained in a coma after being shot in the head during a confrontation inside an Atlanta home, according to police and the teen’s family.
Atlanta police identified the injured teenager as Daquaviyan Whatley. Officers responding to the shooting found Whatley wounded and began emergency care before medics arrived and took him to a hospital. His mother told WSB-TV that her son had been shot in the head and was in a coma.
Whatley’s grandmother said he was not breathing on his own and that doctors had told the family they had done what they could medically. She said the family continued to hold out hope for his recovery and described her grandson as a fighter.
Police said the shooting followed an argument between Whatley and another person inside a home. Authorities have not publicly identified the other person or announced an arrest. Investigators also have not released details about what caused the argument or what happened immediately before the gunfire.
Crime scene investigators worked along Eason Street early Thursday as officers examined the area for evidence. At least 17 spent shell casings were found, according to WSB-TV. Witnesses told the station they heard more than 50 gunshots, though police have not publicly confirmed that number.
The amount of reported gunfire alarmed people living nearby. Neighbors described the area as generally quiet, making the shooting particularly unsettling for residents who awoke to a large police presence and investigators processing the scene.
One neighbor, who asked not to be identified because no suspect had been announced, told WSB-TV the shooting was especially difficult because a similar act of violence had affected the neighbor’s own family. The resident said conflicts should be handled without resorting to gunfire.
Authorities have not released information indicating whether more than one weapon was fired or whether anyone else was wounded. Police also have not announced a possible motive. The number of people who were inside or near the home when the shooting occurred has not been publicly disclosed.
The investigation remained active Friday as police worked to establish what led to the confrontation and identify the person responsible for shooting Whatley. No later public update on Whatley’s condition or an arrest in the case had been announced.
Author note: Last updated August 7, 2026.