A 13-year-old boy survived gunfire into his family’s apartment, more than a year after relatives say he was wounded at the same complex.
ATLANTA, GA — A southeast Atlanta family says it will not stay at its apartment after a 13-year-old boy was wounded early Sunday when gunfire struck their home at the Capitol Vanira Apartments, marking the second time relatives say the teenager has been shot at the complex.
Atlanta police responded to 942 Hank Aaron Drive SE shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, after a report of a person shot. Officers found the 13-year-old inside the apartment with an apparent gunshot wound. Police said he was alert, conscious and breathing when paramedics took him to a hospital. Investigators said preliminary evidence indicated someone outside fired into the residence. Police had not announced an arrest or identified a motive as of Sunday night.
The boy’s mother, Shantavia Battle, told local news outlets that her son was struck four times while the family was inside the apartment. She said she initially thought she heard fireworks before realizing the sounds were gunshots. Battle told her children, whose ages range from 10 to 20, to get on the floor and move toward the bathroom as the shooting continued.
Battle said her 13-year-old son was later released from the hospital and was expected to recover. His sister, Asia Battle, told FOX 5 Atlanta that bullets pierced windows and walls near the boy’s bed. She said the family does not feel safe returning to the apartment. “We’re not sleeping here,” she said, adding that she remained afraid to walk near the windows even after police arrived.
The family said Sunday’s shooting was not the first time the teenager had been wounded at the property. His mother said he was shot in the leg at the same apartment complex in September 2025, when he was 12. Atlanta Police Department records confirm that four males, ages 18, 15, 14 and 12, were shot at 942 Hank Aaron Drive SE on Sept. 18, 2025. All four suffered gunshot wounds to the leg and survived. Police did not identify the victims in that public statement, so the family’s identification of the 12-year-old as the same boy has not been independently confirmed through the police record.
Relatives said another brother was also wounded during the 2025 shooting. The Atlanta Police Department said at the time that investigators with its Aggravated Assault Unit were working to determine the circumstances surrounding that attack. The department’s preliminary statement did not identify a motive or publicly name a suspect.
The scale of Sunday’s gunfire was visible as investigators processed the property. WSB-TV reported seeing 134 evidence markers at the scene that indicated locations where shell casings had been found. Battle estimated that about 120 rounds were fired at the apartment. Atlanta police have not publicly confirmed an exact number of shots fired. Officers were also examining other nearby locations that could be connected to the shooting, according to WSB-TV.
Police have not said who fired into the apartment or why the residence was targeted. Battle told WSB-TV that she believes circumstances involving one of her older children could be relevant, but investigators have not publicly established a connection. Authorities have also not said whether Sunday’s shooting is related to other recent gun violence in the area.
The family’s decision to leave the apartment comes as investigators continue searching for answers. Asia Battle said relatives no longer feel secure at the property and called for stronger action concerning the complex. Police said the latest investigation remains active, with no suspects or arrests announced.
Author note: Last updated October 19, 2026.