Police say an 18-year-old mother and a 21-year-old man were wounded.
ATLANTA, GA — A Saturday evening shooting near an Interstate 285 southbound ramp at Cascade Road in southwest Atlanta injured an 18-year-old pregnant woman and a 21-year-old man, and doctors later pronounced the woman’s unborn child dead, according to police. Officers were called around 5:20 p.m., and both victims were taken to a hospital.
Authorities say the shooting remains under active investigation by homicide detectives. The victims were described as alert and breathing when they left the scene, but officials later learned the teen was pregnant and that the fetus had been struck. The case drew a full response late in the holiday rush as investigators worked to determine where the gunfire came from and why the pair was targeted. As of late Sunday, police had not announced an arrest, released a motive, or publicly identified the victims.
Officers responded to the I-285 Southbound Ramp SW at Cascade Road at about 5:21 p.m. and found the pair with gunshot wounds, police said. Both were transported for treatment. Later at the hospital, medical staff confirmed the teen was pregnant and informed investigators that the unborn child had been hit. “The child had succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased by medical personnel,” police said in a written statement. Detectives documented the scene along the ramp, collected spent casings, and checked for surveillance cameras in the area as traffic moved slowly past the police perimeter.
Police said the wounded adults are ages 18 and 21. Their conditions were not released beyond the initial description that both were conscious and breathing when transported. Investigators have not disclosed the number of rounds fired, the type of weapon used, or whether shots were fired from another vehicle or from the roadside. No description of a suspect or vehicle was available late Sunday. The location — a busy interchange near neighborhood shopping centers and apartment complexes — typically sees heavy traffic on weekends, complicating the early search for witnesses and video.
The homicide unit took the lead after the death of the unborn child was confirmed. Detectives canvassed nearby businesses and checked traffic and security cameras positioned along Cascade Road and the interstate spur to track any vehicles that might have been involved. Crime scene technicians marked evidence on the ramp and photographed the roadway and guardrails before the area reopened. Police have not said whether the victims knew the shooter, whether the incident followed a dispute, or whether it appeared random. Investigators noted that key facts — including the sequence of shots, the victims’ travel direction, and where bullets struck the vehicle — were still being verified.
Officials did not release the victims’ names, citing the ongoing investigation and the need to notify relatives. It was not immediately clear which hospital was treating the pair or whether either had undergone surgery. The agency said more information would be released as it is confirmed, including any suspect details and vehicle descriptions that could narrow the search. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office is expected to determine the cause and manner of death for the unborn child, and investigators will review the findings as part of the case file.
Saturday’s shooting unfolded as many residents were moving around the city ahead of Christmas week, adding to congestion around the interchange. Drivers passing the scene saw patrol cars blocking the ramp and investigators laying out evidence markers while a tow truck prepared to remove a vehicle. “Anytime a child loses their life, it’s heartbreaking,” a department spokesperson said, adding that detectives were working through the weekend to collect footage and statements from people who were in the area around 5:15 to 5:30 p.m.
Police said they will provide an update if an arrest is made or if they develop a clear description of a suspect or involved vehicle. Detectives planned to review incoming tips, analyze ballistics, and compare any recovered shell casings with entries in federal databases. Additional updates are expected after the next briefing from homicide supervisors. As of Monday morning, no charges had been announced and the investigation remained open.
Author note: Last updated December 22, 2025.