ATLANTA — RaceTrac is closing a Downtown Atlanta store location after a man was shot and killed near the area over the weekend.
The company announced in a release that significant public safety issues affecting the area made it decide to close its 120 Piedmont Ave. N.E. effective immediately. This decision came from monitoring the safety of team members and guests at the location and its financial impact on the business.
RaceTrac CEO Natalie Morhous said that the company can only be successful when stores are safe for all.
"I am deeply saddened by the recent senseless acts of violence at and near this store," Morhous said.
On Sunday, Feb. 25, the Atlanta Police Department responded to a shooting at that location at 12:41 p.m. When officers arrived, they found Javare Shakir-Fulford, 21, who sustained apparent gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on the scene, police said.
Police are now seeking help in identifying a suspect and a person of interest in the case. In the video provided by the department, police said the suspect can be seen wearing a black jacket, and the person of interest can be seen wearing a red hoodie.
Anyone with information who may be able to identify the two in the video can contact APD's homicide Unit directly at (404) 546-4235. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at (404) 577- TIPS (8477) and online. People do not have to give their name or any other identifying information to be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
The store is near the Georgia State University campus, and following the shooting, the school's president issued a statement saying that none of the parties involved have been identified as GSU students or staff. The president also said the school will continue to make strides in enhancing and defining the campus to secure its spaces.
GSU freshman and student government senator Sarah Forberger shared her experience during this weekend's shooting.
"I was in Central Dining Hall, which is a few hundred feet away. And I was in the dining hall. And then, the dining hall staff yelled, 'Everyone get down! Everyone get down!' And the amount of fear that went through my body, as a student, thinking that there was an active shooter coming into the dining hall causing safety issues within that was terrifying to me," Forberger said.
There have been previous violent incidents at this gas station, which GSU students told 11Alive back in October was the source of lots of trouble. The conversation came after four people, including two students, were shot near the gas station at an off-campus location.
When asked about the closure, GSU Freshman Nahje Alexander said she typically avoids the area in general.
"It's time for something to change," Alexander said. "I'm really sad that it had to take a business losing their whole location because people don't know how to act."
GSU freshman Sydney Roberts also agreed that the gas station needed to be shut down.
"It's very sad to see regular civilians get gunned down for going to class or just going to go get food," Roberts said.
Despite the gas station's closure, the company said it would continue to provide security at the store during the coming weeks and that all team members at the location would be offered continued employment at other stores.
"As an Atlanta-based business, we did not reach this decision lightly. We know how important our stores are to the community: They are open to guests 24/7/365, they create local jobs, they general taxes and play a critical role in the states in which they operate," Morhous said. "However, RaceTrac can only be successful when our stores are safe for our team members and our guests."
After the announcement of the closure, GSU's president issued a statement that it would be reaching out to the owners of the land about the property.
"As the store closes, it is imperative that the lot is secured, the owners take responsibility and we remain vigilant in our efforts to continue to improve the area," GSU President M. Brian Blake said. "We will be working hard to help ensure future use of that parcel is more compatible with a college campus and the experience that our students and campus community members should have."
11Alive talked with students who suggested campus beautification, more security, GSU buying RaceTrac's property and removing public parking near the gas station in order to increase safety in the area.
Overall, the company said it remains dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming environment to all and will continue collaborating with the communities it serves at its 127 stores across the state.