Atlanta police investigate shooting that wounded 11-year-old boy near Allen Temple Court in southwest area

What happened

Atlanta police are investigating a shooting that left an 11-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to his leg in the Allen Temple Court NW area.

Officers were dispatched at about 6:29 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2024, to the 11 block of Allen Temple Court NW on a report of a person shot. Police said they found the child at the scene. He was described as alert, conscious and breathing, and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Where the incident began

Investigators said preliminary findings indicate the shooting originated elsewhere, at 3202 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW. Police have not publicly detailed what occurred at that location, including whether the child was at the initial location when shots were fired or how he ended up at Allen Temple Court NW.

Authorities also cautioned that early information can change as the investigation develops and additional evidence is reviewed.

Investigation and next steps

The case was assigned to the department’s Aggravated Assault Unit, which typically handles shootings in which the victim survives. Police have not announced arrests, identified a suspect, or released information about a potential motive in this case. No additional injuries were confirmed in the initial public account.

In shootings that occur across more than one address, investigators generally work to establish a clear timeline and connect physical evidence between locations. That work can include reviewing surveillance video from nearby businesses or residences, interviewing witnesses, canvassing for additional victims or property damage, and conducting forensic processing for shell casings or other ballistic evidence.

What is confirmed and what remains unknown

• Confirmed: An 11-year-old boy was found with a gunshot wound to his leg at 11 Allen Temple Court NW on Jan. 14, 2024, and was transported to the hospital.
• Confirmed: Police said the incident originated at 3202 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW.
• Not released publicly: The circumstances that led to the shooting, the shooter’s identity, whether the victim was targeted, and whether the shooting involved a dispute, crossfire, or another scenario.
• Not released publicly: The victim’s current medical condition beyond the initial description provided at the scene.

Police described the information provided immediately after the response as preliminary and subject to change as the investigation continues.

The investigation remained active following the initial response, with detectives continuing to determine the circumstances surrounding how the child was shot and how the incident spanned multiple locations.