Marion Bae, FISM News
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As details continue to unfold surrounding an Atlanta shooting that took place on Monday, the story seems to paint a very different picture from both the mass shooting and gang violence narratives many have become accustomed to.
Part of Midtown Atlanta went on lockdown Monday after three people were shot, killing two and leaving the third wounded. The shooting occurred at 1:45 PM and prompted the Atlanta Police Department to advise residents in the area to stay off the streets as they searched for the suspect.
The police later apprehended the suspected shooter at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, where she was seen with a suitcase.
A black female suspect has been apprehended at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in the deadly mass shooting earlier today in midtown Atlanta, Ga. Two were killed. @MARTAPolice had earlier said the suspect's name is Raissa Kengne. pic.twitter.com/S9P06joIWa
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) August 22, 2022
Interim Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum initially acknowledged at a press conference that the shooting was targeted.
“We do not believe these were random acts of violence. We do believe the individuals were likely targeted that were harmed today,” Schierbaum said.
As information about the suspect continued to be released, the evidence seemed to point to a planned attack.
The suspected shooter was identified as 34-year-old Raïssa Kengne, an Atlanta-based IT professional. Her LinkedIn page shows that she worked for BDO USA as an IT Audit Manager for over two years, before leaving in November of 2021 and starting her own firm.
Kengne had been posting on social media regarding lawsuits and police reports she had filed against BDO, with specific employees named, as well as her condominium’s management. Kengne claimed that her home had been burglarized and evidence she had collected against the company had been taken. She also claimed that there was a conspiracy between her condo’s property management and the company to complete the burglary.
Just hours before the attack, Kengne posted a video on her LinkedIn profile of a conversation with a police officer, which ended with Kengne saying, “Whatever happens, happens.”
A police report released Monday at 4:00 PM outlined the events that occurred.
The first emergency calls come from the 1280 W. Peachtree street condos to report a shooting in the building’s management office. As officers responded to these calls, a report of a separate shooting at the office building on 1100 Peachtree street came in. The initial police response began at around 1:45 PM and the final shot was believed to have been fired around 2:15 PM.
The two deceased victims were revealed to be Michael Shinners, the condo building manager, and Wesley Freeman, Kengne’s former colleague. The third victim, who is still in intensive care, was identified as the condo Chief Building Engineer, Mike Horne.
Since the attacks, police have released recordings of the 911 calls that tragically recorded Freeman’s colleagues as they tried to perform CPR.
After the shooting, Kengne allegedly hailed a taxi and was taken to the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Taxi footage allegedly shows the driver asking Kengne if she had any “problems with anyone” after being notified by his dispatch about the situation. Kengne calmly sat in the back seat and answered that she did not.
Wow listen to this. After the dispatcher calls and explains the situation, the taxi driver asks Kengne "do you have a problem with anyone?" she replied, "Not that I know of. What's happening?" More at 5 only on @FOX5Atlanta pic.twitter.com/OT5V6fSnu1
— Rob DiRienzo (@RobDiRienzo) August 23, 2022
The community has come out in support of the victims, with the residents of 1280 West holding a vigil to commemorate the life of Michael Shinners. Kengne was in court on Tuesday and remains detained.