16-year-old mistaken for intruder shot and killed in own home, Georgia cops say

A 16-year-old was shot and killed in his own home by another occupant who believed he was breaking in, Georgia law enforcement told news outlets.

The shooting was reported shortly before 3:30 a.m. Sept. 1, according to the Atlanta Police Department. Police told WSB-TV that the teen got home late.

“The 16-year-old lived here,” Lt. Andrew Smith told Atlanta News First. “An occupant of the home thought that he was breaking in and was an intruder and opened fire. So again, a real tragedy as we work through this.”

Smith told WSB-TV that the shooter was the teen’s mother’s partner. McClatchy News reached out to the department to confirm the suspected shooter’s identity.

Medical personnel found the boy with gunshot wounds and pronounced him dead at the scene, according to Atlanta police.

Investigators said the suspected shooter left the home before law enforcement arrived, Atlanta News First reported.

This story was originally published September 1, 2025 at 2:47 PM with the headline "16-year-old mistaken for intruder shot and killed in own home, Georgia cops say."