Police said a man was found dead outside an apartment and a woman was rushed to the hospital.
DECATUR, Ga. — DeKalb County police detectives are investigating a domestic-related shooting at a condominium complex on Oakvale Road that left a woman fighting for her life and a man dead from what authorities described as an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The case unfolded in the predawn hours at the Saratoga Lake Condominiums and quickly drew patrol officers, homicide investigators and neighbors who said they woke to the sharp sound of a shot and the sight of crime scene tape being pulled across walkways. Police have not released the names of the people involved, and investigators have not said what triggered the gunfire, leaving family members and residents waiting for answers as the investigation moved from the apartment to the surrounding parking and carport areas.
Police said officers were dispatched at about 3:25 a.m. Wednesday to the 3500 block of Oakvale Road after receiving a call about a shooting. When they arrived, officers found a man dead outside an apartment with injuries consistent with a gunshot wound, investigators said. Inside the apartment, police found a woman who had been shot multiple times. She was taken to a hospital and was listed in critical condition, police said, as detectives began collecting evidence and speaking with residents in nearby units.
Investigators said preliminary information indicates the man shot the woman during a domestic-related incident and then shot himself. Police did not describe any argument that might have occurred before the shooting, and they did not say whether the man and woman lived together. Authorities also did not indicate whether there were restraining orders, prior police calls or other warning signs known to investigators at the time officers arrived. The department said the investigation was ongoing, which can include interviews, a careful review of the scene and coordination with medical officials.
The first hours after the shooting were marked by a growing police presence that neighbors said spread across the complex. A television crew at the scene reported seeing officers put up crime scene tape before daybreak and then watching as a detective from the homicide-assault unit arrived later in the morning. Police said the man’s body was found near a carport area outside the apartment, while the woman was located inside. Officers did not provide details about how long the woman had been inside before she was found or whether anyone else called for help from the apartment.
Anthony Johnson, who lives a few doors down, said he heard what sounded like one shot while he was sleeping. “I was asleep, and I heard one shot,” Johnson said. He said he went downstairs to figure out what happened and stepped outside. “I walked out the door, and he’s lying right in front of our door,” he said, describing the scene he encountered. Johnson added that he felt shaken because violence like that was not something he expected to see where he lives.
As investigators worked, relatives of the wounded woman tried to absorb the news. A family member who asked to be identified only as Aunt Gale told a local television reporter that the woman is in her 40s, has six children and three grandchildren, and was still in surgery as the morning unfolded. The relative said she did not know what happened in the moments leading up to the gunfire. Aunt Gale also said she was not aware of any mental health struggles the man may have been facing, a statement that underscored how little information the family had in the immediate aftermath.
Police have not released an exact count of how many times the woman was shot, and they did not say where in the apartment she was found. They also have not said whether the weapon has been recovered, though investigators typically secure firearms and other potential evidence as part of the scene processing. In cases like this, detectives often document the scene with photographs and measurements, collect shell casings or other ballistic evidence, and track the movements of the people involved through interviews and phone records when warrants are obtained.
The condominium complex sits along a corridor used by families and commuters, and the scene was also described as being across from Oak View Elementary School. That location detail meant the police presence was visible as morning traffic picked up, even though the shooting happened hours earlier. Residents said they saw patrol cars and detectives in the area as the sun came up and the complex began to stir. Some neighbors said they stayed inside while police worked, while others stepped outside briefly to understand what was happening before leaving for work or school drop-offs.
The lack of publicly released names reflected the early stage of the investigation. Police typically delay identification until next-of-kin notifications are complete and investigators have confirmed identities through official records. Authorities also said the man had not been identified publicly by Wednesday morning, and they did not provide an update later in the day. A medical examiner’s review is expected to be part of the process, particularly in confirming the cause and manner of the man’s death.
For now, investigators have described the case as domestic-related and said they are still working to understand the circumstances that led to the shooting. Police have not announced any charges because the suspected shooter is dead, but the case remains an active investigation as detectives finalize interviews and complete the evidence review. The woman’s condition remained critical, and family members said they were awaiting word from doctors. Police said more information would be released as it becomes available.
Author note: Last updated March 5, 2026.