Two People Killed, Six Wounded in Mass Shooting at Buckhead Nightclub; Georgia Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond 

ATLANTA – The Georgia chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement in response to a shooting in Midtown Atlanta over the weekend. While details are still emerging, reporting shows the gunfire erupted around 2:30 a.m. Sunday during a fight inside the nightclub. When officers arrived, they found six people shot, including two who were pronounced dead at the scene by medical crews.

Mari Creighton, 21, and Nakyris M. Ridley, 20, were killed. Investigators believe there was one shooter targeting one other person inside the club. The suspect fired multiple shots, hitting and killing his suspected target as well as five others, who are thought to be bystanders.

“A night out should not end in gunfire. Thanks to Georgia lawmakers, my generation cannot feel safe at school, going out with friends, or going about our everyday lives, ” said Insherah Qazi, a volunteer with Students Demand Action in Georgia. “When are the lawmakers elected to protect us going to wake up and realize they are actively creating a world in which we aren’t safe? We deserve better and we will continue to demand that our lawmakers do their jobs to help keep us safe.” 

“This is the devastating reality of being a parent in America: your kids going out on a Saturday night and not knowing if they’ll come home,” said Diana Gregory, a volunteer with the Georgia chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Our country is stuck in a seemingly endless cycle — tragedy strikes, communities are torn apart, lawmakers fail to act, and young people bear the burden. We refuse to accept that this is the best we can get for our children.” 

In recent years, the Georgia State Legislature has been ceding to the gun lobby’s ”guns everywhere” agenda, by allowing guns to be carried nearly anywhere in the state — from the busy Atlanta airport to college campuses. In 2022, Georgia repealed the permit and background check requirement for carrying a concealed handgun in public, despite the fact that 88 percent of Americans believe that a permit should be required before carrying a concealed gun in public. These dangerous gun laws have and continue to make Georgians less safe. 

Gun violence costs Georgia $23.9 billion each year, of which $597.8 million is paid by taxpayers. Georgia suffers from some of the weakest gun laws in the country and in an average year, 1,927 people die by guns. With a rate of 17.9 deaths per 100,000 people, Georgia has the 15th-highest rate of gun deaths in the US.

To speak to a Georgia volunteer with Moms Demand Action, a volunteer with Students Demand Action, or a policy expert, please contact [email protected].