It happened again. Just last week, the sirens were screaming down North Stone Mountain Lithonia Road, and honestly, if you live around here, you didn't even have to look at the news to know what was going on.
A 3-year-old boy. Just sitting in his car seat.
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He was stuck in traffic with his dad on a Sunday evening when bullets from a nearby gas station argument ripped through the metal and glass. This wasn't some targeted hit or a movie-style heist. It was just a few people losing their heads over something stupid and pulling triggers without a second thought. Chief Greg Padrick called it "reckless and senseless," and yeah, he’s right. But for the people who call this part of DeKalb County home, "senseless" is starting to feel like a permanent neighbor.
The shooting in Lithonia GA isn't just one headline; it’s a mosaic of incidents that have local families feeling like they’re playing a game of chance every time they go to the store.
The Reality of the North Stone Mountain Lithonia Road Incident
Let’s talk about that 3-year-old. The details coming out of the courtroom are enough to make your stomach turn. A bullet hit that little boy in the head. He’s still in critical condition, fighting for a life that hasn't even really started yet.
Police moved fast on this one. They arrested three people, including a 15-year-old. Think about that for a second. A teenager is facing charges that could effectively end his life before it begins, all because of a dispute at a gas station that ended in gunfire. DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson was visible at the press conferences, emphasizing that this "should not happen," but the community is asking how it keeps happening.
The shooter wasn't even aiming at the car. The boy and his father were literal bystanders caught in the crossfire of an argument they weren't part of. It’s a recurring theme in the 2026 crime data we’re seeing: the victims aren't the ones with the beef.
The Ingles Shootout: A Long Road to Justice
Then there’s the Rockbridge Road situation. You might remember the chaos at the Ingles back in April 2025. Two shoppers—both in their 60s—were just trying to get their groceries when a fight broke out between employees.
One employee, Quincy Mitchell, was nabbed pretty much immediately. But it took until Tuesday, January 13, 2026, for the U.S. Marshals and DeKalb deputies to track down the second suspect, Christian Price. They found him at a house right here on Providence Point Way in Lithonia.
It took nine months to find him.
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Think about the people who shop at that Ingles. For months, they’ve been walking those same aisles where two innocent people were hit by stray bullets, wondering if the guy who did it was still walking the same streets. This kind of lag in the justice system creates a specific kind of anxiety. It makes the neighborhood feel smaller, and not in a good, community-focused way.
Is the "Stonecrest Area" Becoming a Hot Zone?
People often use "Lithonia" and "Stonecrest" interchangeably, but regardless of the technical city limits, the shopping hubs are where the friction happens. We saw a shooting in a shopping plaza on the 6100 block of Covington Highway back in October. Gunfire actually damaged the local businesses there.
Then you have the Mall at Stonecrest. It’s supposed to be the jewel of the area, but it’s been plagued by high-profile violence for years.
- The 2019 Tragedy: We finally saw some closure in 2024 when Jermel Campbell and Trayvon Williams were sentenced to life plus 25 years. That case was brutal—Kevin Mcleod-Downer was killed while literally shielding his girlfriend from bullets outside the Round1 bowling alley.
- Recent Spikes: Despite the heavy sentences, 2025 saw a 16-year-old shot while sleeping in Lithonia and a separate man shot in Stonecrest on the same night in September.
Basically, the "hangout spots" are becoming the most dangerous places to be. It’s not just about gangs or drugs anymore; it’s about a total lack of conflict resolution. You bump into someone? They pull a gun. You argue over a parking spot? They pull a gun.
What the Numbers Actually Say
If you look at the raw statistics from 2025 and moving into early 2026, DeKalb County’s crime rate is sitting around 40.3 per 1,000 people. To give you some perspective, that’s higher than a lot of the surrounding suburbs. While property crime is actually the most common issue in Lithonia specifically, the visibility of violent crime is what’s killing the vibe of the city.
The DeKalb County Police Department has started leaning heavily into technology. They’re using a "countywide video technology initiative" to track shooters. That’s actually how they caught the suspects in the 3-year-old’s shooting so quickly.
But is a camera going to stop a 15-year-old with a chip on his shoulder? Probably not.
How to Stay Safe in the Current Climate
It’s easy to say "just stay home," but that’s not a life. If you’re living in or visiting the area, there are some practical things to keep in mind given the recent patterns of shooting in Lithonia GA.
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The Gas Station Rule
Most of the recent "bystander" shootings have happened at or near convenience stores and gas stations after 6:00 PM. DeKalb has actually passed a law requiring these businesses to have high-def surveillance, but many are still struggling to comply. If a station looks poorly lit or has groups loitering outside, just keep driving. The extra two miles to a busier, better-lit spot is worth it.
Avoid the "Crossfire Zones"
Traffic-heavy areas like North Stone Mountain Lithonia Road are ironically dangerous during disputes because you’re a sitting duck. If you see an argument escalating at a storefront while you're stopped at a light, don't watch. Try to put distance—or at least another vehicle—between you and the potential line of fire.
Stay Informed on Real-Time Alerts
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and the local PD are getting better at pushing out alerts. Using apps that track local police scanners or community reports can give you a five-minute head start on avoiding a perimeter or an active scene.
What Needs to Change?
Honestly, the community is tired of the "senseless" labels. We know it’s senseless. What we need is a shift in how these areas are policed and how the youth are engaged.
There’s a push for more "unsupervised juvenile" ordinances, especially after what happened at the market on Market Street SW recently. But at the end of the day, it’s about the presence of guns in the hands of people who don't care about the consequences.
The arrests this week are a start. Seeing Christian Price behind bars for the Ingles shooting provides some relief. But as long as a 3-year-old is fighting for his life because of a gas station argument, the work isn't even close to being done.
Next Steps for Residents:
- Report loitering: Use the non-emergency DeKalb police line to report consistent loitering at gas stations that aren't following the new video surveillance laws.
- Support local youth programs: The 15-year-old involved in the recent shooting is a symptom of a larger problem. Organizations like the DeKalb Boys & Girls Club need more than just "thoughts and prayers."
- Check the DeKalb Sheriff’s website: They updated their contact and alert systems on January 5, 2026. Make sure you’re signed up for the new emergency notification tiers.
- Attend the next precinct meeting: Voice your concerns about the specific intersections—like Covington Highway and Rockbridge Road—where these incidents are clustering.