Investigators say 18-year-old Matthew Milner was shot at the Riverstock Apartments on Arnold Mill Road.
WOODSTOCK, Ga. — An 18-year-old was fatally shot Monday evening inside a Woodstock apartment he shared with his mother, and police say the killer fled before officers arrived. The shooting happened just after 5:30 p.m. at the Riverstock Apartments on Arnold Mill Road.
Authorities identified the victim as Matthew Milner of Woodstock. Officers found him with gunshot wounds and firefighters provided aid before an ambulance took him to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office are assisting Woodstock police as detectives review evidence, canvass the complex and interview neighbors. Police described the area as having very little violent crime, underscoring the shock to residents. No arrests had been announced as of Tuesday night, and investigators did not say what led up to the gunfire.
Officers were dispatched after a 911 call reported a shooting at the complex shortly after 5:30 p.m. Monday. When police arrived, they found Milner wounded and began life-saving measures with fire crews. He was taken to Wellstar Kennestone and later died. In a statement, Woodstock police said there is “very little violent crime” in the city and called the shooting unusual for the neighborhood. Investigators spent hours at the building Monday night, collecting shell casings and checking apartment exteriors. “It’s a very quiet place,” one resident said, adding that patrol cars are rarely seen at the property.
Authorities confirmed Milner’s age and name and said he lived at the apartment with his mother. The shooting occurred at the Riverstock Apartments, a complex along Arnold Mill Road near Highway 92. Police did not release information on a suspect description, a possible getaway vehicle, or whether a firearm was recovered at the scene. Detectives asked residents for security video from the late afternoon and early evening. The GBI and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office joined the case to process evidence and support interviews. Officials have not said whether the gunfire happened during a dispute, a targeted attack or a random encounter, and they did not describe any threat to the broader public.
Woodstock’s violent crime rate is historically low compared with larger metro Atlanta cities, and police noted that homicides are rare. Records show few recent shootings in the immediate area of Arnold Mill Road. Monday’s killing comes during a period when suburban agencies across the region often call in the GBI to speed up ballistics and forensic work. Investigators typically analyze surveillance video from building entrances and parking lots at complexes like Riverstock and compare shell casings with state databases to look for matches. Neighbors said the property is family-oriented, with most activity winding down by early evening on weeknights.
Detectives said the investigation is active and ongoing. The department will release new information when available, including any suspect details, a potential motive and autopsy findings. If an arrest is made, the case would proceed in Cherokee County courts. Officials did not announce a news conference but said updates would come as evidence is processed. The GBI typically publishes its summary findings after local investigators complete their work; that report would include lab results, interviews and scene diagrams.
Late Tuesday, the apartment complex was quiet as patrol cars made periodic passes through the lot. A small cluster of residents stood near a stairwell where investigators had taped off an entrance the night before. “This is heartbreaking for his family,” a neighbor said, declining to give a name. Others said officers spoke with them about camera footage and doorbell recordings. A maintenance worker described seeing detectives check garbage areas and grassy strips near the parking lot.
The investigation remained open Tuesday night, with Woodstock police saying they are working with state and county partners to identify a suspect. Officials said they will share the next update once laboratory tests and interviews are complete.
Author note: Last updated January 28, 2026.