In the early evening of Friday, March 1, 2019, a burst of gunfire shattered the routine of a bustling South Fulton, Georgia, shopping center, leaving a young man's life tragically cut short. William “Willie B” Edward Redditt IV, a 17-year-old African American male, was fatally shot multiple times in the parking lot of the Kroger-anchored shopping center on Old National Highway.
The incident unfolded just after Redditt had left a barbershop within the complex.
Surveillance footage from the scene captured the harrowing final moments of the teenager's life. The video shows Redditt walking in the parking area moments before a male suspect appears and opens fire. After being struck by multiple bullets, Redditt collapsed at the scene where he was later pronounced dead. The shooter was seen fleeing the location immediately after the attack. The brazen nature of the shooting, which occurred in a busy area with numerous onlookers, sent shockwaves through the local community.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the City of South Fulton Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. Despite having the surveillance footage, authorities were initially unable to publicly identify the shooter and appealed to the public for any information that might lead to an arrest. At the time, police stated that they had not determined a motive for the killing.
The South Fulton Police Department subsequently issued a bulletin classifying the death of William Redditt IV as an unsolved homicide. The bulletin provided details of the incident and sought public assistance in identifying the person or persons responsible for the shooting. To date, there have been no publicly announced arrests or identification of any suspects in the murder of William “Willie B” Edward Redditt IV, and the case remains an open investigation.
