Washington Park / Alden Street carjackings: Warning story. (Atlanta, Franklin: crime, neighborhood)

[atlantagreg30127]

For those living in the Washington Park neighborhood, you will want to take a minute to read this news report so you can take any necessary precautions: ATL Neighborhood Plagued By Carjackings - 11Alive.com | WXIA | Atlanta, GA (http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=132993&catid=40 - broken link)

[PKCorey]

Atlanta councilman Mitchell carjacked at gunpoint*| ajc.com

Is this the same area?

[AcidSnake]

Originally Posted by PKCorey

Atlanta councilman Mitchell carjacked at gunpoint*| ajc.com

Is this the same area?

Maybe this will add a little bit more urgency to these politicians when it comes down to the ballot box near this year's end. We cannot afford for things to be business as usual in Atlanta.

We need a Rudolph Guiliani-type approach to the crime situation here and a politician that is willing to call it like he or she sees it.

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by AcidSnake

Maybe this will add a little bit more urgency to these politicians when it comes down to the ballot box near this year's end. We cannot afford for things to be business as usual in Atlanta.

We need a Rudolph Guiliani-type approach to the crime situation here and a politician that is willing to call it like he or she sees it.

Exactly! Which DOES NOT include any room for Chief Pennington in any new administration.

Just getting rid of him alone will do absolute wonders for APD morale.

[DoveDiva]

Originally Posted by PKCorey

Atlanta councilman Mitchell carjacked at gunpoint*| ajc.com

Is this the same area?

Yes.


A friend of mine from New Orleans posted this on her facebook page today after reading the paper (she now lives in North Fulton): "Atlantans, you all better watch out. It will be like New Orleans, crime-wise, if this type of mess continues." And this is coming from someone who is FROM New Orleans...

[J2rescue]

Originally Posted by johnatl

Exactly! Which DOES NOT include any room for Chief Pennington in any new administration.

Just getting rid of him alone will do absolute wonders for APD morale.

I just read in an article indicating that he is retiring, I assume by the end of Franklin's term. I think he can read the writing on the wall

[kayrob]

Is this the area in which world champion boxer Vernon Forrest was killed in an apparent robbery attempt last night?

[StPaulEastSider]

Originally Posted by kayrob

Is this the area in which world champion boxer Vernon Forrest was killed in an apparent robbery attempt last night?

CNN is reporting Forrest was shot to death last night in not just a robbery, but yet another CARJACKING - this time in a SW Atlanta neighborhood.

Washington Park is in the NW quadrant, maybe 2 miles north of I-20. So not the exact same neighborhood, but possibly fairly nearby - depending on exactly which SW neighborhood the Forrest carjacking/murder took place.

Anyone have any more specific details?

[JasonPaul]

From 11alive.com


"Everybody's torn up," said manager Charles Watson. "It's a senseless killing."
Watson met with Forrest's family and Atlanta Police early Sunday morning.
According to Watson, Forrest stopped at a gas station on McDaniel Street in the Mechanicsville community at about 11 p.m. Saturday. Watson said a stranger helped Forrest fill one of his tires with air, and Forrest offered him some money.
"There were several guys around him, and they had already planned to rob him," Watson said. "Somehow they snatched his wallet and started running and he (Forrest) proceeded after them."
Watson said Forrest then lost sight of the men.
"He started walked back, and the guy jumped out and shot him, then shot him six more times on the ground," Watson said.
Forrest's Godson was with him Saturday night but went inside to buy a candy bar before Forrest was robbed. He did not witness the shooting.
"Vernon was a God-fearing man," Watson said. "It's just devastating to see him lose his life the way he lost it."
Atlanta Police Sgt. Lisa Keyes said police have no suspects at this time.
Forrest was a native of Augusta. He was a member of the 1992 Olympic team and a former two-division world champion, holding titles in the welterweight and junior middleweight divisions.


Sad, sad stuff.

[StPaulEastSider]

HEARTWRENCHING



Mechanicville would be just 2-4 miles south of Washington Park, very likely the same group of thugs.

The attention of a celeb being shot up will surely cause the group to crack from the inside... my guess is somebody will roll on the gunman within a week.

It's a cying shame it got this point, let's hope this incident will prove to be the group's unraveling. PRAYING!

Originally Posted by JasonPaul

From 11alive.com


"Everybody's torn up," said manager Charles Watson. "It's a senseless killing."
Watson met with Forrest's family and Atlanta Police early Sunday morning.
According to Watson, Forrest stopped at a gas station on McDaniel Street in the Mechanicsville community at about 11 p.m. Saturday. Watson said a stranger helped Forrest fill one of his tires with air, and Forrest offered him some money.
"There were several guys around him, and they had already planned to rob him," Watson said. "Somehow they snatched his wallet and started running and he (Forrest) proceeded after them."
Watson said Forrest then lost sight of the men.
"He started walked back, and the guy jumped out and shot him, then shot him six more times on the ground," Watson said.
Forrest's Godson was with him Saturday night but went inside to buy a candy bar before Forrest was robbed. He did not witness the shooting.
"Vernon was a God-fearing man," Watson said. "It's just devastating to see him lose his life the way he lost it."
Atlanta Police Sgt. Lisa Keyes said police have no suspects at this time.
Forrest was a native of Augusta. He was a member of the 1992 Olympic team and a former two-division world champion, holding titles in the welterweight and junior middleweight divisions.


Sad, sad stuff.