A 7-year-old girl who was shot in the head in the Buckhead of northwest Atlanta has died.
Kennedy Maxie was a passenger in a Lexus with her mother and aunt when she was shot in the back of the head near Phipps Plaza. Kennedy died on Saturday after undergoing emergency surgery.
The child’s aunt said she heard gunfire as she drove past Phipps Plaza on Monday, December 21. She drove on until she realized Kennedy had been struck and rushed her to Children’s Healthcare at Scottish Rite Hospital.
Police say a fight between two groups of men broke out in the parking lot outside Saks Fifth Avenue at Phipps Plaza. Kennedy was shot by a stray bullet fired by one of the men.
Atlanta police have investigated 150 shootings in Atlanta this year. At least 8 shootings have occurred at Lenox Square Mall and Phipps Plaza since December 2019. Both malls are owned by Simon Properties, which promised to install metal detectors at Lenox Square mall entrances.
Phipps, located across the street from Lenox Square, is considered the more upscale property. No new security plan was announced for Phipps.
Investigators are working on “significant leads” from the public, said Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
“Our hearts are broken by the senseless murder of Kennedy. While the Atlanta Police Department has significant leads in the apprehension of those responsible, it does not erase the pain felt when a beautiful, vibrant, and loving child is tragically taken from her family. We urge the public to continue to provide information that will lead to the arrests of the careless and heartless people responsible for Kennedy’s death.”
A GofundMe page raised over $50,000 for the girl’s family.
A $15,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
