Police said the shooting unfolded before dawn at Saratoga Lake Condominiums off Oakvale Road.
DECATUR, Ga. — A woman was hospitalized in critical condition after she was shot multiple times during a domestic-related incident at a DeKalb County condominium complex early Wednesday, and a man was found dead outside with what investigators believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
The shooting drew homicide investigators to the Saratoga Lake Condominiums in the 3500 block of Oakvale Road as neighbors woke to flashing lights, yellow tape and detectives moving between an apartment and a nearby carport. Authorities did not immediately identify either person, and they have not said what led up to the gunfire. Family members said the wounded woman is a mother of six, and relatives waited for updates as surgeons worked to save her.
Officers were called to the complex at about 3:25 a.m. after a report of someone shot, DeKalb County police said. When patrol officers arrived, they found a man dead outside the apartment with what appeared to be a gunshot wound he inflicted on himself, according to investigators. Inside the apartment, police found a woman with multiple gunshot wounds, officials said. She was rushed to a hospital and remained in critical condition as the morning went on.
Detectives said their preliminary work indicates the man shot the woman during a domestic-related incident before turning the gun on himself. Investigators have not said whether the man and woman lived in the apartment, what their relationship was, or whether there had been earlier calls to the address. Police also have not said how many shots were fired or what kind of gun was involved. The complex sits along Oakvale Road, and the scene drew attention from residents who said they were startled by the sound of gunfire and the rapid police response.
A neighbor who lives a few doors down told a local television crew he was asleep when he heard a single gunshot. “I was asleep, and I heard one shot,” Anthony Johnson said. He said he came downstairs to see what was happening and stepped outside, where he saw the man on the ground near the doorway area. “I walked out the door, and he’s lying right in front of our door,” Johnson said. He described the moment as shocking and said he had never seen anything like it in his community.
Another resident described seeing police stretch crime scene tape across parts of the property as daybreak approached. By about 4:30 a.m., officers were already securing the scene, and a detective from the department’s homicide-assault unit arrived later in the morning, according to television coverage from the scene. The man’s body was found near a carport area, investigators said. Police did not say whether any other people were in the apartment at the time of the shooting, and officials did not announce any arrests because the suspected shooter was found dead.
Relatives of the woman gathered near the complex and at the hospital, trying to piece together what happened. A family member who asked to be identified only as Aunt Gale said the woman is in her 40s and has six children and three grandchildren. The relative said the family had been told the woman was still in surgery as Wednesday morning unfolded. Aunt Gale said she did not know what sparked the shooting and said she was not aware of any mental health struggles the man may have been facing.
Investigators said they were still working to confirm the sequence of events and to notify family members. The department did not release the names of the woman or the man as detectives continued to collect evidence and interview residents. Police have not said whether there were prior domestic violence reports connected to the address, and they have not released details about injuries beyond describing the woman’s condition as critical. The lack of identities also left neighbors with questions about whether the couple was known in the community and how long they had lived at the condominium complex.
In Georgia, investigations into domestic-related shootings typically include interviews with people who may have been inside or nearby, a review of 911 calls and dispatch notes, and the collection of physical evidence from both the interior of the home and surrounding outdoor areas. Detectives often seek warrants for phones and other records to build a timeline, and they coordinate with the medical examiner’s office to determine the official cause of death. In this case, police said the man’s wound appeared to be self-inflicted, but they still must complete the medical examiner’s review and other standard steps before the death is formally ruled.
For residents of Saratoga Lake Condominiums, the early-morning violence turned an ordinary weekday into a long, tense wait. Some neighbors watched from windows or stayed behind closed doors as officers moved through the complex. Others stepped outside to go to work or take children to school and were met with police vehicles and taped-off walkways. The condos sit across from Oak View Elementary School, an added detail that made the heavy police presence more noticeable to commuters and families traveling the corridor during morning hours.
Police said the investigation remained active and ongoing and asked anyone with information to speak with detectives. Authorities said they expected to provide more details once the victims are formally identified and next-of-kin notifications are complete. As of midday Wednesday, the woman remained hospitalized in critical condition, and the man’s identity had not been released. Investigators have not announced a public briefing time, but they said updates would follow as the case develops.
Author note: Last updated March 5, 2026.