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What we know about the deadly shooting near Atlantic Station

A 12 and 15-year-old were shot and killed in November 2022.

ATLANTA — Editor's Note: This story was last updated on October 9, 2023, after a new arrest was announced by the Atlanta Police Department.

Atlanta Police released a video of a group of teens believed to be connected to a deadly shooting near Atlantic Station on Saturday, November 26, 2022, where a 12 and 15-year-old were killed. 

What does surveillance show? 

Atlanta Police are looking for four primary suspects in the fatal shooting. Their homicide detectives released surveillance videos that show the suspects walking with a group of teens down 17th Street before the shooting on Nov. 26. The department also has footage of the group after the shooting, leaving on a MARTA train.

"These persons that I am going to point out in this video are the persons responsible for the entire shooting," APD Investigator Jarion Shephard said.

Authorities said the group boarded the MARTA train in the video and went in different directions throughout the city. Atlanta Police said there is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of the shooters.  

Who are the suspects under arrest?

As of October 9, 2023, seven arrests have been made by Atlanta Police in connection to the shooting, where two young boys were killed and four other people were hurt near Atlantic Station.

A week following the shooting, APD said they had arrested a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old in the case and that they will be facing murder charges. Police did not identify the two.

They added one of the teens was apprehended in New York, and that both are students in the Atlanta Public Schools system. They were both described as shooters in the Nov. 26 incident.

Additionally, a third arrest was announced on December 12, 2022. A 16-year-old, from Clayton County, was taken into custody in connection to the deadly shooting.

A fourth suspect, Derodney Russell, was arrested Sunday, March 5, 2023, by Clayton County Sheriff's Office deputies. Russell is the first adult to be arrested in connection to the deadly November shooting. He is now in custody at the Clayton County Jail and is accused of murder.

Credit: Clayton County Sheriff's Office
Derodney Russell

Atlanta Police announced they arrested two more teens on March 20. The 15-year-olds were not identified but police did say they were arrested in different parts of the city.

11Alive obtained records from the Fulton County Sheriff's Office showing 17-year-old A'Micael Aziz was booked into jail back in August on felony murder, murder and aggravated assault, among other charges. 

Credit: Fulton County Sheriff
A'Micael Aziz

Police did not say if they were searching for more suspects in the case. However, they are still investigating.

Who were the victims?

Two kids were killed in the shooting. A 12-year-old, Zyion Charles, died Saturday night in the incident. The second victim who died, 15-year-old Cameron Jackson, was initially in critical condition after the shooting. Four others were hurt.

Zyion's mother, Deerica Charles, gave emotional remarks before the Atlanta City Council Public Safety Committee describing her efforts to steer her son away from a path of dangerous behavior. She said he had been involved in groups breaking into cars, an increasingly common form of street crime in Atlanta. 

"I tried, y'all. I called the police office almost 30 times in the last two years, and they told me they can't do nothing. I said he's out and breaking into these folks' cars, can you please get him off the street," Deerica said.

Credit: wxia
12-year-old, Zyion Charles (left), 15-year-old Cameron Jackson (right)

Jackson's family described him as a teen who loves science, animals, cooking and riding dirt bikes. He also had been practicing boxing since he was just 9 years old.

More on the case 

Police initially said the shootout stemmed from the two groups originally escorted off the Atlantic Station property due to unruly behavior and curfew violations at the complex. APD later confirmed they believed the shooting was gang-related. 

Charles' family also expressed that said they didn't believe he was part of a gang.

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