One killed at southwest Atlanta dentist’s office; police detain man as homicide investigation begins
Shooting reported Saturday afternoon on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW
A man was killed in a shooting Saturday afternoon at a dentist’s office in southwest Atlanta, and police detained one person at the scene as homicide investigators began working to determine what led to the gunfire.
Officers were dispatched at about 3:05 p.m. on Feb. 14, 2026, to 3412 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW after a report of a shooting. The address corresponds to a dental office location along a busy commercial corridor in southwest Atlanta.
When officers arrived, they found an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. Police said the victim was not breathing when officers located him. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
What authorities have confirmed so far
One person was pronounced dead at the scene after officers responded to a shooting call shortly after 3 p.m.
Police detained one male at the scene. Authorities have not announced charges as of Saturday afternoon.
Homicide investigators were assigned to examine the circumstances, including how the shooting unfolded and what contact existed between the victim and the person detained.
Key details remain unanswered
Authorities had not released the victim’s identity as of Saturday afternoon, and no information was provided about the relationship, if any, between the victim and the person detained. Police also had not confirmed a possible motive, whether the incident stemmed from a dispute, or whether there were additional people involved beyond the person detained.
Investigators typically work to establish a timeline using witness statements, physical evidence, and any available surveillance footage from nearby businesses or the premises. In incidents at commercial locations, detectives often seek to determine whether the shooting occurred inside the business, at an entrance, or in adjacent parking areas, and whether any bystanders were present or at risk.
Police said the shooting occurred at 3412 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW and that one male was detained at the scene.
What happens next
The case is expected to move through standard homicide-investigation steps, including a medical examiner’s review to confirm cause and manner of death, interviews with potential witnesses, and an assessment of any weapons recovered. If detectives determine probable cause for an arrest, charges would be announced through the criminal-justice process.
Police have described the case as developing, indicating additional details may be released as investigators confirm facts and notify next of kin.