Syere Littlefield: Teen shot by cops at Georgia Six Flags park was earlier injured in drive-by shooting
SOUTH FULTON, GEORGIA: Syere Littlefield, the 15-year-old involved in the recent shooting at a Six Flags amusement park in Georgia, was discovered to have been a victim in a drive-by shooting just two weeks before the opening night chaos on Saturday, March 2.
Littlefield, who is currently in critical condition after being shot by police during the Six Flags incident, had previously sustained minor injuries in the February 17 drive-by shooting on Lavender Lane in South Fulton, Georgia.
The drive-by shooting remains unsolved, with no arrests made in connection to the incident.
Lt Jubal Rogers, a spokesman for the South Fulton Police Department, confirmed, "Mr Littlefield was listed as a victim in that incident."
Timeline of tragic shooting at Six Flags
The Six Flags incident unfolded on the opening night of the amusement park, with an estimated 500-600 teenagers involved in a series of fights, prompting chaos that spilled outside the park.
Littlefield, among the group of teens, was shot by police after reportedly firing at officers.
A handgun was found on him at the scene, leading to charges including aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of a firearm under 18.
Concern over youngsters resorting to crime
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now investigating the incident, raising questions about the connection between the drive-by shooting and the amusement park altercation. Videos circulating on social media depict the mayhem at the park, with numerous brawls breaking out during the opening day.
Local activist Gerald Rose expressed concern over the age of the suspects involved in these crimes.
"It’s just the fact that the suspects doing these crimes are younger and younger," said Rose.
"Summer hasn’t even broke yet, and on the first day of the amusement park, someone at 15 gets shot? We have all this gun violence going on and I’m just very concerned with where we’re headed. You’re a teenager. You supposed to be at home playing Atari video games. You out committing adult crimes," Rose said, as reported by Daily Mail.
Increased police presence falls short in Six Flags incident
Concerns about safety at Six Flags have surfaced, with some attendees claiming lax security measures, including unchecked bags upon entry. Six Flags officials, however, emphasized their commitment to guest safety, revealing the use of Evolv, an advanced security screening system.
The system, which represents hands-off screening technology, is designed to detect metals and unauthorized objects. It is the same technology employed by various schools in the metro Atlanta area and larger venues like Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Cobb County police clarified that the park had requested "additional officers to work on the park property for that day. Additionally, the precinct commander for the area where Six Flags is situated arranged for extra officers to patrol the adjacent areas."
Despite these efforts, the situation escalated, leading to the unfortunate shooting.
