Atlanta homeowner charged after shooting two teens during attempted porch package theft
A homeowner has been arrested after two teenagers were shot during what police say was an attempted porch-package theft outside a southwest Atlanta home.
Atlanta Police said Rakim Bradford, 34, was taken into custody on Thursday. He is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The charges stem from a Thursday afternoon shooting at 803 Celeste Lane, where officers found a 15-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to his right foot. He was alert and breathing when police arrived and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
A second teenager, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, was later found with a gunshot wound to his right arm. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition, underwent surgery, and is expected to survive.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said investigators believe the homeowner opened fire after seeing "some packages being taken off of a front porch," noting that thefts like this are common during the holiday season.
"We have identified everybody that was involved," the chief said. "There was no threat to this neighborhood. There was no home invasion."
Schierbaum praised EMS crews and hospital staff for their response. He said the heavy police presence, including officers who arrived long after the scene was secured, was connected to a search warrant being executed to gather evidence.
"Anytime a child is injured in our city, we take that very seriously," he said. "We want to make sure we know what happened, that individuals are held accountable, and that the proper resources are available for that family."
Schierbaum urged residents with information about this shooting and a separate October case to contact Crime Stoppers. He said neighbors on Celeste Lane have already been key to helping investigators understand what happened.
"We can assure them there's no continued threat to this neighborhood today," he said. "We are going to remain present with them."
The Aggravated Assault Unit is continuing the investigation.