In the quiet Dixie Hills neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, the life of a vibrant 7-year-old girl named Zoey Price was tragically cut short on the night of February 24, 2026. A first-grader at SLAM Atlanta Charter School, known for her love of dance, cheerleading, and basketball, Zoey was inside her family's home on Tiger Flowers Drive when the residence was targeted in a drive-by shooting.
The young girl, who had just celebrated her birthday in December, was struck by a bullet and, despite the desperate efforts of police officers who rushed her to the hospital, she succumbed to her injuries. Her 44-year-old mother, Cassandra Ervin, was also wounded in the attack but survived.
The senseless act of violence stemmed from a verbal dispute over the phone earlier that day between 19-year-old Preston Smith and Zoey's brother. Following the argument, Smith allegedly made threats to "shoot up the home." Later that evening, Smith, accompanied by 17-year-old Steven Richardson, drove to the Price residence and opened fire on the house. The shooting resulted in the death of the young girl and the injury of her mother, who was left with a bullet lodged in her ribs. The community was left in shock and mourning, leaving behind flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals outside the family's home in memory of the cheerful little girl.
In the days that followed, the Atlanta Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and ATF, launched an intensive investigation. Their efforts led to the swift identification of the suspects. Steven Richardson surrendered to the Fulton County Jail on February 28, followed by Preston Smith on March 2. Both teenagers face a string of serious charges, including murder, aggravated assault, third-degree cruelty to children, criminal damage to property, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Atlanta officials, including Mayor Andre Dickens and Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, announced the arrests at a press conference, vowing to hold those responsible accountable for the "senseless" killing of a child described by her mother as being "full of energy and full of joy."
