Police say a dispute earlier in the night led to gunfire into a residence.
ATLANTA — A 7-year-old girl was killed and her mother was wounded when someone fired into their northwest Atlanta home late Tuesday, and the child’s older sister said she held the first-grader as she slipped unconscious while the family called 911.
The shooting, reported just before 10 p.m. on Tiger Flowers Drive NW, has driven fresh grief through a tight cluster of homes and apartments near Joseph E. Boone Boulevard. Investigators say the attack followed an argument between two men about 30 minutes earlier. Police have not announced an arrest, but the city’s police chief has said detectives have strong leads and are working to identify the shooter.
Family members identified the child as Zoey Price, a first-grader who loved to dance and cheer. Her mother, Cassandra Ervin, 44, was struck by gunfire and later left the hospital with a bullet still lodged in her ribs, relatives said. Zoey’s sister, Tanitya Ervin, said the family was inside when the shots erupted outside and tore into their home. “Normally, when we hear shots go off, we usually do the normal routine,” Tanitya Ervin said, her voice breaking as she described dropping to the floor for cover. She said she heard her mother cry out first, grabbed her phone and called 911.
Tanitya Ervin said Zoey was hit in the chest. She pulled her sister close and tried to keep her awake as the sound of sirens grew louder, she said. In the chaos, she heard Zoey whisper, “Love you,” before she lost consciousness. Police and medics rushed both victims to Grady Memorial Hospital, where Zoey was pronounced dead, relatives said. Cassandra Ervin survived and was treated before being released, but her recovery is expected to take time. The gunfire also left the family shaken and searching for answers about why shots were fired into a home where children were present.
Atlanta police have said the shooting occurred in the 2200 block of Tiger Flowers Drive NW. Officers arrived to find an adult woman and a juvenile girl suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The woman was alert, conscious and breathing when she was taken for treatment, police said. The child was transported in critical condition and later died at the hospital. Homicide investigators responded to the scene to determine what happened and to track down the person who fired the shots. Police have not publicly named a suspect, described a vehicle, or said how many shots were fired.
Authorities have pointed to an argument shortly before the attack as the trigger for the violence. Investigators believe the people involved knew each other, police said, but officials have tried to narrow what the case is not. Police Chief Darren Schierbaum said they do not believe the incident was domestic and do not believe the suspect is a family member. He has also said investigators have a clear picture of what led up to the shooting and know who they are looking for. In a message directed at the shooter, Schierbaum urged the person responsible to turn himself in, and warned that an arrest was coming.
“We’re going to arrest the individual that took a child of Atlanta, of this city, through senseless gun violence,” Schierbaum said at the scene. “You know who you are. If you’re watching this broadcast, we’re going to take you into custody.” He described the child’s death as a loss for the department and the city, saying the moment was painful for officers who responded and for neighbors who stood outside watching investigators work. Police have not said whether the shooter fired from the street, from a car, or from nearby property, and they have not released details about the weapon used.
The neighborhood has responded with small memorials and quiet gestures of support. Flowers, balloons and stuffed animals have been placed outside the home where Zoey lived, neighbors said. Kimberly Turner, who lives nearby, said the child was often seen outside and that the sight of the memorial has been hard to take in. “This baby lost her life,” Turner said. “Seven years old? She had her whole life ahead of her. It’s sad, really sad.” Another neighbor said Zoey would stop to pet his dog and smiled easily when she passed by.
On Wednesday, neighbors said they were asked whether home security cameras might have captured the shooting, but no one reported having usable video. The absence of footage has added to the frustration for residents who want the shooter identified quickly. Andre Mitchell, another neighbor, said the death has rattled families and left people trying to make sense of a child being killed over an adult dispute. “It’s heartbreaking to see something like that,” Mitchell said. Police have not said whether any surveillance cameras from nearby businesses or street-facing systems captured the incident.
For Zoey’s family, the days since the shooting have been a blur of grief and financial worry. Tanitya Ervin said her mother is a single parent raising five children and now faces medical bills at the same time the family is preparing for a funeral. The costs, she said, stack up quickly when a household loses stability overnight. “My mom is a single parent, so we have lights, rent, a car note, and younger children she has to look after,” Tanitya Ervin said, listing daily expenses. “Especially for Zoey’s funeral.” The family said the Willie Watkins Funeral Home has stepped in to help with arrangements.
Police have asked anyone with information to come forward, and the family has sought help from friends and community members as the investigation continues. Detectives have not said whether they believe the shooting was targeted at someone inside the home or whether gunfire was intended for someone else nearby. Authorities also have not said whether other residents or bystanders were present outside when shots were fired, or whether additional witnesses have been interviewed. Investigators have described the information released so far as preliminary and subject to change as more evidence is collected.
The shooting has also renewed calls from neighbors for faster answers in a case that has left a child dead and a mother recovering. Residents said the sound of gunshots is not new in the area, but the death of a first-grader has raised the stakes in a way that is hard to ignore. Some neighbors said they have become more attentive to who comes and goes and more willing to share information if they hear or see something unusual. Others described a sense of exhaustion, saying it is difficult to accept that an argument between adults could spill into a home and kill a child.
Authorities have not announced any scheduled court hearing, suspect booking, or formal charge, and police have not released the child’s cause of death beyond describing her injuries as gunshot wounds. Investigators have said they are following strong leads and expect to make an arrest. In the meantime, Zoey’s family said they plan to honor her life with a balloon release on Monday, March 2, in memory of the child they described as energetic and quick to laugh. The event is expected to draw relatives, classmates and neighbors who want to show support.
As of Friday, police said the homicide investigation remained active and no suspect had been publicly identified. The family said Cassandra Ervin is home from the hospital and still healing while relatives help care for the children. Police have said they believe the dispute that preceded the shooting can be traced to specific individuals and that detectives are working to bring the shooter into custody.
Author note: Last updated February 27, 2026.