A 19-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting that erupted in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood on July 28, leaving one person dead and 10 others injured. Rico Arnold was taken into custody during a traffic stop in Clayton County on Friday, August 8, with assistance from Atlanta police, Riverdale police, and the FBI Violent Crime Squad.
The shooting occurred at approximately 1:27 a.m. on July 28 outside 349 Edgewood Avenue Southeast, a popular nightlife strip in the historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood. Officers responding to multiple 911 calls found 27-year-old Santos J. Wyatt fatally wounded at the scene. Ten additional victims, ranging in age from 18 to 29, were transported to local hospitals with gunshot wounds.
Arnold faces one murder charge and 10 counts of aggravated assault in connection with the incident. However, authorities indicated that three other suspects remain at large – two additional males and one female who police believe were involved in initiating the violence.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum explained that the shooting began when four suspects approached a group assembled around a streetcar stop on Edgewood Avenue. The confrontation escalated into an exchange of gunfire that left multiple victims wounded. Among the injured, an 18-year-old male was listed in critical condition, while the remaining victims appeared to be in stable condition.
Investigators recovered multiple firearms and 34 shell casings from the crime scene. Chief Schierbaum noted that at least five of the victims appeared to be innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is assisting Atlanta police with the investigation.
Surveillance footage released by the Atlanta Police Department shows three male suspects walking along Tanner Street Southeast around 12:07 a.m., all dressed in black clothing. Additional video from approximately 1:09 a.m. captures one suspect exiting the backseat of what appears to be a silver Ford Fusion sedan, meeting with a person of interest wearing red shoes, before both individuals returned to the vehicle.
The department also released still images of a female suspect, highlighting her profile, clothing, tattoo, and purse to aid in identification efforts. Police indicated the video evidence was instrumental in developing leads that led to Arnold’s arrest.
A witness who contacted authorities before the shooting reported seeing several individuals armed with weapons jumping from a truck. The witness called 911 upon observing the armed group, though the shooting occurred shortly afterward despite the early warning to police.
The mass shooting was part of a particularly violent weekend in Atlanta, with Chief Schierbaum reporting 12 separate shooting incidents that resulted in 29 people injured and two killed from Friday through Monday morning. He emphasized that the incidents appeared unconnected, stating that none were related “other than the individuals had guns and they were angry.”
Mayor Andre Dickens acknowledged the severity of the weekend’s violence, noting that the city had not experienced such a concentrated period of gun violence in some time. Despite the recent spike, officials reported that homicide rates have decreased compared to previous years, with 57 criminal homicides recorded in 2025 compared to 76 at the same point in 2024.
The night before the mass shooting, another triple shooting occurred on Edgewood Avenue, though police indicated the incidents were not connected. Local business owners and workers in the area have called for increased security measures and greater input in safety planning for the entertainment district.
In response to the violence, city officials pledged to implement enhanced safety measures for the Edgewood Avenue corridor, including increased police patrols during peak business hours and the installation of additional security cameras. The measures aim to address what has become a recurring pattern of violence in the popular nightlife destination.
Authorities continue seeking information from the public regarding the remaining suspects. Crime Stoppers is offering rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to arrests and indictments. “We haven’t had a weekend like this in a long time,” Mayor Dickens stated during a press conference following the incident.
Tips can be submitted anonymously through multiple channels, including calling the Crime Stoppers tip line at 404-577-8477, visiting the Crime Stoppers website, using the P3 mobile application, or texting “CSGA” to 738477. Detectives continue interviewing witnesses, reviewing evidence, and analyzing surveillance footage as the investigation remains active.