A 16-year-old Atlanta boy is dead after his mother’s boyfriend mistook him for a burglar and shot him early Monday morning as he was returning home.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’ Office identified the victim as Daquavius Royalston, according to WAGA.
“Appears to be a true tragedy,” said Atlanta Police Homicide Commander Lt. Andrew Smith. “The 16-year-old boy lived here and an occupant of the home, we believe, thought that he was breaking in and was an intruder and opened fire.”
Smith identified the shooter as “a significant other of the mother of the child” and said that he fled the scene after the shooting. He said police are looking for him and that it was “too early to tell” if any charges would be filed or if he would go free despite killing his girlfriend’s son.
According to WANF, the incident took place just before 3:30 a.m. in a gated community called Monticello Park.
Police did not provide the killer’s name but said they know who he is.
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