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Left: Preston Smith. Right: Steven Richardson. Middle: Zoey Price (Atlanta police).
Nineteen-year-old Preston Smith and seventeen-year-old Steven Richardson have been charged with murder, attempted murder, and three counts of aggravated assault for their involvement in the fatal shooting of young Zoey Price.
Authorities were called to respond to reports of gunfire shortly before 10 p.m. on February 24, at a location on the 2200 block of Tiger Flowers Dr. NW. Upon arrival, they discovered Zoey and her mother, both suffering from gunshot injuries. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Zoey was pronounced dead by medical personnel. Her 44-year-old mother managed to survive the ordeal.
Expressing profound sorrow, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens remarked that Zoey was “a little girl that should be here.” He recounted how her family fondly remembered her as a bright and caring child.
Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Prenzinna Spann told reporters Tuesday at a press conference that Smith and Zoey”s brother were speaking on the phone when they got into an argument. Smith allegedly threatened to shoot up the brother’s home. The defendant then picked up Richardson and they drove to the Price home where they opened fire as they drove by, Spann said.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Zoey is “a little girl that should be here.” He said family members described her as a bright and compassionate child.
“She was just a fun kid to be around,” he said.
Zoey participated in the city’s cheerleading and basketball programs.
“She was doing what kids her age do and what they’re supposed to be doing, building friendships and growing up learning about teamwork,” Dickens said. “Her life was cut short in an act of senseless violence. And that loss is not abstract. It is a chair that is going to be missing at the dinner table each night. It is an empty classroom seat next to her friends that are going to be mourning the loss with her teachers, her classmates and the rest of the school.”
Richardson was arrested on Thursday while Smith turned himself in to police on Tuesday, cops said.