Atlanta, Georgia: Atlanta Police Release Video of Suspect in Fatal Shooting of Indian-Origin Student Akash Banerjee
The Atlanta Police Department has made public surveillance footage showing the suspect involved in the fatal shooting of Akash Banerjee, an Indian-origin tech student, in Georgia.
Akash Banerjee, 22, was fatally shot in the head inside an apartment building near the Georgia Tech campus, where he used to live. The incident occurred on May 18. According to officials, the surveillance footage suggests the act was deliberate, and police have obtained a clear image of the suspect. Authorities mentioned that Banerjee, who reportedly had a criminal background, appeared to be specifically targeted, though they did not disclose further details about his past. During a press briefing, police confirmed that the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as Banerjee. He was found on the ninth floor of The Connector student apartments in Midtown and was later pronounced dead at Grady Hospital.
Commander Andrew Smith of the Atlanta Police Homicide Unit told reporters, as quoted by Fox5Atlanta, “We’re at a point where we believe this was a targeted act.” Surveillance footage released by the department shows a man walking through the hallway with what appears to be a firearm visible in his pocket just 10 minutes prior to the shooting. Smith added that the suspect had previously visited the building in search of Banerjee. Given that access to the building requires a key card, investigators are now looking into how the suspect was able to enter. Police stated that an altercation occurred between the two before Banerjee was shot. The shooter has not been publicly named but is currently considered a person of interest. “He was in the hallway well before the victim arrived,” Smith emphasized, reinforcing their belief that the shooting was intentional.
A resident of the same apartment complex contacted emergency services after hearing a loud bang and finding someone lying motionless in the hallway. The caller told the dispatcher, “There is someone in front of my door who is lying on the floor, and we heard a loud noise. I don’t know if he’s dead, but I don’t want to open the door. I don’t want to get in trouble. I don’t know what happened.”
Investigators believe Banerjee may have known his assailant, though they are still trying to determine the exact relationship. In a statement, Georgia Tech expressed its condolences, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our students. This loss is felt across our community, and our hearts go out to the student’s family, friends, and loved ones. We are also grateful to the medical team who provided such compassionate care.”
