Grisly Double Homicide Shooting Marks 99th & 100th Homicide In Atlanta This Year

Atlanta, Georgia, has hit its 100th homicide for this year alone, making it ahead of last year’s pace.

On Friday, Atlanta police investigated its 100th homicide after a double shooting left a brother and sister dead.

According to authorities, Robert Bankston, 25, and his sister Cedrika Smith, 35, were found dead inside a car in southwest Atlanta late Friday.

A man at the scene was detained, but it’s unclear if he faces any charges for the double homicide, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Last year, the Atlanta Police Department investigated 157 homicides, 99 more killings than in 2019. Earlier this summer, APD reported nearly a 60% increase in murder cases; since then, the pace has slowed, but this year’s homicide count is still ahead of last year’s count.

The homicide count for last year didn’t reach 100 until October 1, 2020.

Leaders continue to grapple with the wave of violent crime the city is experiencing and are working on new initiatives to help combat the problem. Violence has become a leading topic among campaigns in the upcoming mayor and city council political races.

In June, APD Chief Rodney Bryant proposed a summer plan to help fight the wave of crime by focusing on the hardest-hit areas, gun violence, and gangs.

“We’ve seen an uptick in crime throughout Atlanta and I want to reassure the citizens of Atlanta that we will be vigilant,” Bryant said. “We want to be able to put more police officers out on the street. So we’re adjusting our administrative personnel as well, where they will be deployed out into areas to supplement the day-to-day patrols that you are seeing.”