Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney

Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit

Sherry Boston, District Attorney

STATEMENT FROM DISTRICT ATTORNEY SHERRY BOSTON  REGARDING DEADLY SHOOTING RAMPAGE

March 17, 2021

“Today, sadly, our nation is reeling from the news of a deadly shooting rampage that claimed the lives of eight people in our own Metro Atlanta community. My heart aches for the loss of life and for the grieving families left behind in the wake of this senseless tragedy.

While investigative details are still unfolding regarding the motive of the alleged shooter, the incident mirrors what we’ve seen across the nation over the past year: Asian Americans, in particular, victimized by violent crime. To be clear, we stand against violence perpetrated against ANY person, or community of people, while simultaneously standing for justice regardless of race, creed, ethnicity, or nationality for either perpetrator or victim.

Whether the facts bear this particular incident out to be a hate crime, we know that Asian Americans have been specifically targeted in many other crimes across our nation. DeKalb County is home to one of the largest Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in the metro area. What we know from a law enforcement and prosecutorial perspective is that this is an often marginalized community that is sometimes apprehensive and fearful as it relates to reporting crimes against them. Our message in this moment is clear: hate-laced threats or violence of any kind, whether reported, or not, will be taken seriously—backed by new Hate Crime legislation recently passed by Georgia lawmakers.

In the interim, our Office is reaching out to our law enforcement and AAPI advocacy partners in our jurisdiction to determine how we may be of service during this time. Our victim advocates and community liaisons are standing by to assist with access to resources and information, and/or to simply be a calming force during this emotionally stressful and traumatic time.

We are here to listen, to help, and to advocate for justice to the full extent of the law for those who aim to do harm to any of us.”

Sherry Boston
District Attorney
Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit