ATLANTA — Deborah Hardy has lived in her Southwest Atlanta neighborhood for over 40 years. She's gotten used to the potholes and the occasional crime. She and her sister, Donna, like to spend time together.
"We're Irish twins," Hardy said. "We started school together, finished school together. I came here; she came here. We just never part. We got shot together, too."
The two sisters took their niece to get lunch at the Peachtree Center Mall food court, known as The Hub, Tuesday afternoon when they ran into an armed man inside. Atlanta Police said Jeremy Malone, a convicted felon, shot a man after an argument. He allegedly shot Hardy and her sister as well.
"It happened so fast, I couldn't even think straight," Hardy said. "He turned this way, facing us, and I just saw him like this. I heard the pop, pop, pop. I knew it was shooting, and I didn't even realize I was shot. I was trying to get that baby out of harm's way. My sister and I were trying to get that baby out of the line of fire."
Hardy said the family ducked into a nearby restaurant, where employees helped protect them during the aftermath of the shooting. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said an off-duty APD officer shot Malone and ended the attack. Police said Malone was arrested 11 other times. Criminal defense attorney Darryl Cohen said he should have never had the chance to pull the trigger.
"Had he been under the right type of supervision, there's a possibility, if not a likelihood, he wouldn't have the ability to be where he was in the food court," Cohen said. "We don’t want to take guns away from law-abiding citizens. We want to take them away as much as we can from those people who will commit crimes with a weapon. We do the best we can in the system. The system is not perfect. It’s better than any other system in the world, but it’s not perfect.”
Through public records, 11Alive found a man matching Malone's description had been previously sentenced to 15 years in prison following a robbery conviction. He finished serving time in 2020. On Wednesday, a judge denied Malone bond after records showed he waived his first court appearance. Law enforcement is currently looking through surveillance from The Hub to piece together the investigation.
Hardy hopes the gunman gets help. Everyone is expected to survive the shooting, according to police. Hardy was released from the hospital Tuesday night. With every step, she aims to heal with gratitude and reflection while continuing to live her life.
“I’m just thankful to my Heavenly Father that he allowed me to stay alive above ground," Hardy said. “I can’t even believe it myself. I waited until 70 years old to get shot. I just thank God nothing worse happened.”