Alleged Atlanta Carjacker In Critical Condition After Vehicle Owner Fights Back With Firearm

A 17-year-old alleged carjacker in Atlanta, Georgia, was sent to the hospital in critical condition when the owner of the car he was allegedly trying to steal fought back and used a handgun to stop him. The incident occurred shortly before midnight on Thursday, December 14.

Georgia’s self-defense law is, like many red states, broadly permissive of the use of force to defend one’s self or home from an attacker without the duty to retreat. Further, the state is a constitutional carry state, meaning that an individual generally does not need a concealed carry permit, so long as that person is not legally prohibited from carrying a firearm.

In any case, Fox 5, reporting on where the midnight incident occurred, noted that the alleged attempted carjacking and resultant shooting took place outside a Texaco gas station in the southwest of the city, at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Peyton Place.

The Atlanta Police Department, describing the incident, said, “Preliminary Information: On 12/15/23, around 1:38am, officers responded to 2716 Martin Luther King Jr Dr. SW in reference to a person shot. Upon arrival, officers located a male with a gunshot wound. Grady EMS responded to the scene and transported the male to the hospital in critical condition.”

Continuing, the Atlanta Police gave their initial theory on what occurred, saying, “Preliminary investigation indicates the victim was shot while entering an unattended automobile. Investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation remains active at this time.” It later was revealed that the incident was an alleged attempted carjacking, not the theft of an unattended vehicle.

Police also noted that the wounded teen, who has so far not been named by the police, is wanted for numerous auto thefts in the Atlanta area. Further, despite his youth, he has had numerous run-ins with law enforcement. He was last arrested in September of 2023 for a slew of charges, including reckless driving, altering license plates, and driving without a license.

Further, in May 2023, he was arrested and charged with carrying a firearm while under the age of 18, still illegal despite the constitutional carry law in the state. Before that, he had been arrested for auto theft in June of 2022. Despite all those incidents and arrests, he was out on the street and able to allegedly commit this carjacking, with it ending far more seriously for him than the past incidents.

On December 15, the Atlanta Police Department informed the public of another, seemingly unrelated shooting incident that also occurred on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, saying, “Preliminary information: On December 15, 2023, at approximately 5:07 p.m., Atlanta Police Zone 1 officers responded to a report of a person shot near Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. NW and Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. NW. Upon arriving on the scene, officers located a male victim who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Responding medical personnel pronounced the victim deceased on the scene. Investigators with the Homicide Unit responded to the scene to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation continues.”