Local on WACN 21 News

Atlanta Crime Down 14% This Year, but Transit Violence Keeps Public on Edge

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 10:00:00 -0400

By the numbers, Atlanta is having one of its safest years in recent memory. The Atlanta Police Department reported a 14% year-to-date decrease in overall crime through mid-June, with steep declines across several categories that have long frustrated residents and business owners.

But statistics tell only part of the story. A series of high-profile random violent incidents on the city’s transit system has put public safety back at the top of the conversation — and tested whether data-driven progress can overcome the visceral fear that a single headline can produce.

Fish Kill in Chattahoochee River Sparks Investigation After May Storm

Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:00 -0400

A significant fish kill in the Chattahoochee River has prompted a joint investigation by the City of Atlanta and state environmental agencies, with officials pointing to severe storm runoff from May 20 as the likely trigger.

Residents along the river south of Peachtree Creek began reporting dead fish on the morning of May 21 — bloated carcasses of bream, catfish, and shad collecting along muddy banks and pooling in shallow eddies. By midday, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources had dispatched field teams to collect water samples and document the extent of the die-off.

APD Provides Update on Piedmont Park Shooting Investigation Nearly 7 Weeks After Deadly Incident

Thu, 21 May 2026 15:00:00 -0400

The Atlanta Police Department held a press conference Wednesday to provide an update on the deadly shooting at Piedmont Park that occurred on the evening of April 4 — nearly seven weeks after the incident that left one person dead and another injured.

What Happened on April 4

According to APD, the shooting took place during an unpermitted gathering in the park on the evening of April 4. Officers responded to reports of gunfire and found two victims at the scene.