Atlanta Mayor Asks For Public's Help, Earns Buckhead Email Jeers

ATLANTA — Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Tuesday condemned the spate of violent crime raging through the City, calling it a “COVID crime wave.”

But Buckhead cityhood proponents responded, saying Bottoms was attempting to “deflect blame.”

“We are seeing acts of violence that we haven’t seen in decades in this country,” Bottoms said. “Primarily, these acts of violence are between people who know one another. All acts of violence are senseless.”

She particularly called out the shooting death of 17-year-old Jakari Dillard and the stabbing death of Katherine Janness.

Police have an arrest warrant for a suspect who shot and killed Dillard on July 24 at the Anderson Park pool.

As for Janness, who was found stabbed to death after being seen walking her dog on the outskirts of Piedmont Park last week, the FBI is now lending assistance to the investigation and a $10,000 reward is available for any information leading to an arrest.

“We are still seeking help from the public,” Bottoms said.

But following Bottoms' message to the public about crime prevention methods and efforts to reign in the delta variant of COVID-19 through a citywide mask mandate, the head of the group driving a Buckhead secession movement circulated an email criticizing her comments.

“In today’s press conference, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms once again attempted to deflect blame for the local crime crisis from her weak leadership and anti-police policies to the usual scapegoats – COVID-19 and gun ownership,” Buckhead City Committee CEO Bill White wrote Tuesday evening. “Referencing last week’s horrific murder in Piedmont Park – another example of how area criminals have been emboldened by unsupported and understaffed policing – the mayor both admitted that security cameras were of little help and, ironically, expressed aspirations to install more.”

White leads the organization that began as a non-profit exploring the feasibility of branching Buckhead off from the City of Atlanta. The movement points to rising crime in Buckhead as its primary beef with City Hall and has gotten as far as having bills in both chambers of the Gold Dome to bring a referendum to the state legislature.

The investigations into both deaths remain ongoing. Atlanta Police is asking anyone with information to please contact the Atlanta Police Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477. Callers can remain completely anonymous. The reward is up to $10,000.

See also:

• Buckhead City Committee Wants Divorce From Atlanta
• Bloody Sunday In Atlanta Ends In Three Deadly Shootings