On a cool evening in Atlanta, Georgia, a burst of violence shattered the calm on Griffin Street, leaving a family devastated and a community searching for answers. On December 1, 2010, Wayne Wright, a 29 year old man, was standing in front of the house where he lived when he was ambushed. A man approached him on foot and, without warning, opened fire with what police at the time described as an assault rifle.
The sudden and brutal attack claimed Wayne's life at the scene.
Wayne's brother, who was with him at the time, narrowly escaped the same fate. As the shots rang out, he managed to flee in a vehicle. The assailant continued to fire at the fleeing car, but fortunately, his brother was unharmed. The brazen nature of the shooting, right in a residential neighborhood, sent shockwaves through the area. Atlanta police detectives began an immediate and intensive investigation, starting with the only eyewitness to the crime, Wayne's brother. They hoped his account could provide a crucial lead or a possible motive for the killing, which was not immediately apparent to investigators.
The news of the tragedy was a crushing blow to his family. His mother, Barbara Banks, was overcome with grief, her loss amplified by the knowledge that her son was a father to three children, the youngest just nine months old. In the days and weeks that followed, the investigation continued, but details about any persons of interest or potential suspects did not emerge publicly. Despite the initial efforts by law enforcement, online records and news reports following the incident do not indicate that an arrest was ever made in the case. The shooting of Wayne Wright remains an unsolved crime, a painful open wound for his family who still await justice.
