ATLANTA — A 57-year-old grandmother is dead after being shot inside her home, according to Atlanta Police.
Officers said they originally responded to the scene on Highview Road, in southwest Atlanta, around 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
Officers also said that four to five other people were in the home at the time of the shooting, including children as young as three months.
The family of the woman killed and the Fulton County Medical Examiner have identified her as Andrea Brown. Atlanta Police believe the house was a target, but Andrea was not.
Patrick Joly owns the home across the street from where the shooting happened.
"The shots were distinctive because it was so quiet," Joly said.
When the shots went off, he said he couldn't believe it.
"It startled me out of my sleep," he recalled.
Joly described what he heard.
"I know it was rapid-fire and consecutive shots—maybe about six or seven shots," Joly said.
The worst started flowing through his mind.
"Could a bullet have flown and pierced the bedroom, because my daughter's bedroom and my granddaughter's bedroom is here, facing the front?" Joly said.
He said his senses heightened.
"I heard a woman's cry," Joly said. "And I heard the sound of a dog barking."
Then, Joly said he heard the sound of police sirens in the distance. Several neighbors told 11Alive they're used to activity at Andrea's house—like noisiness and company.
Andrea's sister Kimberly Brown-Mack explained why.
"She's just a caretaker. My sister, her whole life, has been caring for family members, children; standing in a gap when... even our own mother had her issues—had to go to prison," Brown-Mack said. "And she was my guardian, my brother's guardian, and then other cousins and relatives."
Brown-Mack said Andrea would take anybody in, especially young people. She said her nephew told her Andrea was holding onto her three-month-old grandbaby, who happens to be named Chosen, as shots rang over her home. Their last conversation was about him.
"She was a good person. Nobody's perfect, but she had a good heart," Brown-Mack said. "Somebody to give her last for everybody—that was her."
When Brown-Mack heard her sister, affectionately called "Squinch" likely saved her grandchild's life, she was at a loss. She said Andrea was likely more protective because she recently lost another grandbaby to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Andrea has also been in remission from cancer for 10 years.
"She was just caught in the crossfire of some foolishness," Brown-Mack said.
Brown-Mack wants gun violence to end and had this to say to whoever did this.
"Turn yourself in because, God knows, I don't want to see no more retaliation," Brown-Mack said. "I don't want to see no more parents or family members going through this."
Brown-Mack wants to know what happened that led to her sister losing her life.
Atlanta Police Homicide Commander Germaine Dearlove said they plan to find out.
"We can't have these folks walking around in our city," Dearlove said.
At this time, there is very little additional information. However, investigators believe anywhere from one to two suspects outside deliberately fired into the home from the street, unintentionally striking the woman. Police are still looking for whoever is responsible.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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