Akash Banerjee, an Indian-origin student of Georgia Tech, who died days after he was shot in the head at an upscale, off-campus apartment building on Sunday was targeted, according to police.
On Wednesday, Atlanta police released a video of the accused attacker walking down the ninth-floor hallway at The Connector Apartments, an off-campus student housing complex in Midtown Atlanta.
Investigators believe he knew Banerjee, 23, and was waiting for him, homicide unit commander Andrew Smith said during a news conference, Fox5 reported.
Atlanta police also showed a video of a “person of interest” who is most likely the shooter.
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At this time, they do not know the nature of the relationship between the shooter and the victim, Smith said. Investigators are still combing through digital evidence at this time.
Although Atlanta PD declined to identify the victim, Smith did say the victim had a criminal history, but would not elaborate. “We do believe that [he] is involved in the shooting,” said Smith. “We believe that they do have a relationship.”
A 911 caller who lives in the building reported hearing a loud noise and seeing someone lying on the floor outside their door. “There is someone in front of my door who is lying on the floor, and we heard a loud noise,” the caller told the dispatcher. “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.”
Medics rushed the victim to a local hospital for treatment. But he died from his injuries on Tuesday.
“It is really worrying,” said Malcolm Hall, a recent Georgia Tech graduate who lives in the building. “On a scale of 0 to 10, I’m like an 8. Anyone can bring in a gun, which is pretty worrisome.”
Authorities say the shots rang out at The Connector Apartments on the 600 block of Spring Street at around 6:46 p.m. on Sunday, according to Fox5. When Atlanta police officers got to the scene, they found a 23-year-old man lying unconscious on the 9th floor of the building.
Witnesses reportedly told police that they heard an argument in the hallway before the gunshots.
“Our hearts are with our student as well as his family and friends during this time,” a spokesperson for Georgia Tech told FOX 5.
Atlanta Police Department has asked people to call it with any information that could help with the investigations and offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.