Graduation party shooting kills one and sends another to the hospital

On Sunday morning, tragedy struck the Atlanta community when a 16-year-old girl, Breasia Powell, was shot and killed outside of Benjamin E. Mays High School.

The Atlanta Police Department responded to calls of multiple people being shot at 2:27 a.m. and upon arriving at the scene, discovered Powell critically injured. She was transported to the hospital, but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries. A 16-year-old boy also checked himself into the hospital with a gunshot wound from the same incident and is currently in stable condition.

Powell was scheduled to begin working for the City of Atlanta on Tuesday as a participant in their youth employment program. The Atlanta Homicide Department believes those involved were also high school-aged and there is a $10,000 Crime Stoppers reward related to information about the shooting.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who graduated from Benjamin E. Mays High School, expressed his grief during a news conference Sunday. He said students should be able to have a “fun, enjoyable, safe summer” without violence and encouraged guardians to stay involved in their children’s whereabouts.

Dr. Lisa Herring, superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, said the district will continue to offer employment resources and mental health services to students and their families. The district offers free telehealth and counseling services for all students and Benjamin E. Mays High will have on-sight crisis teams Tuesday for teachers and parents who may need to resources for the summer months.