At least 16 shootings on Atlanta metro interstates in 2021 but nearly no arrests

Of the shootings, 10 are being investigated by Atlanta Police and three are being investigated by DeKalb Police. Clayton County, Gwinnett County, and Coweta County Police have each taken at least one report this year for interstate shootings.

On Thursday, 11Alive followed up with the police departments investigating each shooting and could only confirm a single arrest in any of the shootings. It was connected to a shooting in Coweta County in April.

“It is hard to ID the shooter, there are very few witnesses, they usually occur at night and it is really hard to conduct a full-scale investigation,” said Mike Puglise, an attorney in Gwinnett County and former police officer.

Puglise said he isn’t surprised an arrest has been made in only one out of 16 interstate shootings.  He said these type of shootings happens in an instant with everyone quickly gone. The shootings often happen at odd hours.

“Your witnesses are usually uncooperative, they may be passing through, they may be out of state. It is hard to locate them and do a thorough investigation,” Puglise said.

For anyone who witnesses a shooting on the interstate, the former officer said police want their assistance. However, witnesses need to make sure they can do so safely.

“Observe anything you can see. If you can take down notes that you can give to law enforcement, most certainly do that. A tag number, of course trying to ID the shooter. But again don’t put yourself in harm’s way,” he explained.