ATLANTA — The search for a killer continues after a woman was found shot dead and left lying in the middle of the street Thursday morning in Atlanta.
Area Barnett was just 25 years old when her life was cut short. Her mother opened up only to 11Alive, saying they want the shooter off the streets before they hurt anyone else.
"I'm numb, and I'm hurt. I just want to know who killed my baby. She didn't deserve this, and she don't need this. They just left her in the street like she was a dog. They didn't have to kill her like that," Jashala Ford said.
The mother of six can't believe her middle child is gone. The last time she saw her was on Mother's Day when the family got together to celebrate. Early Thursday morning, she knew something was wrong.
"My phone kept ringing, and I didn't answer. When I went to listen to the message, it was Detective Jenkins from the homicide department. I'm thinking, 'Oh my God! Who killed one of my kids?' I said, 'Let me call Area.' Turns out it was my baby," Ford said.
Atlanta Police said they found Barnett's body in the middle of the road underneath the I-285 overpass by the intersection of Harwell Road NW & Collier Drive NW. Ford said the 25-year-old was waiting for the bus at the MARTA bus stop on her way to work just 10 minutes away at Walmart.
"Every day in the morning, she go to work at 5 a.m. From what I'm hearing, I understand an altercation happened at the bus stop," Ford said.
Jones explained it looked like the 25-year-old was trying to run away before she was shot. Detectives told her she was hit multiple times. She's not sure how many times, but she knows that one bullet hit her head. She's now worried whoever did it could hurt someone else.
"If he did it to my baby, he'll do it to somebody else or somebody else's child," Ford said.
That's why she wants them arrested, hoping that once they are, she can finally understand why this happened.
"I want you to go to the bottom of the cell. I want you to suffer the way you make my daughter suffer. I want you to feel the same thing you did when you took my daughter's life. You don't need to smell no more fresh air. I want justice for my baby," Ford said.
11Alive reached out to APD to see if they have any leads in the investigation, but we are waiting to hear back.
Barnett's mom is now working on planning her funeral and is raising funds for a proper burial. If you'd like to help, you can here.