Man Dies After Being Shot Outside Vine City Food Mart, Crashing Into Power Pole

ATLANTA, Georgia — A man is dead following a targeted shooting outside a Vine City food mart late Tuesday, an incident that ended with his car crashing into a power pole just down the street.

Atlanta police responded to the scene near the corner of Joseph E. Boone and Joseph E. Lowry Boulevards shortly before 8 p.m. Officers found the victim inside a wrecked car on Joseph E. Boone Boulevard, across from Rodney Cook Senior Park. The vehicle had ripped off its bumper, snapped a power pole in two, and left a car door pinned against a nearby building.

According to police, the victim was actually shot at the Vine City Food Mart. It remains unclear whether he was already inside his car or jumped into it after being shot in an attempt to get help.

A family at the nearby park, who did not want to be identified, described the chaotic moment. One witness said the driver “tried to swerve the dog and lost control,” then ran over a curb, hit a park bench, and struck the light pole. “That’s when the big kaboom went off,” the witness added.

When bystanders pulled the man from the car, they observed significant blood on his chest. “It was a gunshot wound,” the witness said. “He was going pretty fast down — he was definitely going fast enough that he was trying to save his life.”

Atlanta police believe the shooting was a targeted attack. Investigators are hoping that witnesses who were in the area and surveillance footage from nearby stores will help them track down the shooter.

The Vine City scene marks the first of two deadly shootings in Atlanta on Tuesday night. Minutes later, police were called to a second shooting on Lisbon Drive in the Sylvan Hills neighborhood, about five miles away.

“Use this incident as a reminder to stay alert, informed and safe in your surroundings and community. If you have any information about the incident in this article – report it immediately to local law enforcement. Your tip could be the missing piece or make a huge difference.”