'Targeted' Shooting Kills Man Hours After Fatal Greenbriar Gunfire

ATLANTA, GA — Two separate shootings hours apart claimed the lives of two men Thursday in Atlanta, police say.

A man was first shot to death outside the Greenbriar Mall food court, and police say they have detained a possible suspect.

An off-duty Atlanta officer was working an extra job around 4:45 p.m. at the Greenbriar Parkway mall when he heard gunfire erupt outside, police said.

The officer exited the food court and saw a 28-year-old man dead from multiple gunshot wounds, police said. At the scene, police said the officer was able to identify a potential suspect and detain him without incident.

The fatal shooting was the result of a verbal dispute between strangers, police said. The man who died was not identified.

Hours later, unrelated, police responded around 11:30 p.m. to a McDaniel Street Southwest fitness center, where a 19-year-old man was found shot to death inside the center, police said Friday.

A motive was unknown, and police did not say if a suspect has been arrested. The shooting appeared to be targeted, WXIA-TV reported, citing police.

As shoppers prepare for the holiday season, police asked people to remain cool and contain their anger.