State and county agencies are assisting city police; no arrests announced.
WOODSTOCK, Ga. — Police have identified the 18-year-old killed in a Monday evening shooting at the Riverstock Apartments as Matthew Milner of Woodstock. Officers were called just after 5:30 p.m. to the complex on Arnold Mill Road, where they found Milner with gunshot wounds.
The case has drawn assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office as detectives search for the shooter and a motive. Milner was treated by fire personnel at the scene and taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities said violent crime is rare in Woodstock, and neighbors described the property as typically quiet. Police have not released details about what preceded the gunfire, whether a weapon was recovered or the number of shots heard. As of late Tuesday, investigators had not announced a suspect or person of interest.
Call logs show officers were dispatched after a 911 caller reported a shooting around 5:30 p.m. Monday. Responding units arrived to find Milner injured inside the complex. Firefighters provided immediate care before the transport. Detectives cordoned off a stairwell and several parking spaces while technicians photographed doorways and collected items near a breezeway. In a statement, Woodstock police said the city sees “very little violent crime,” adding that the department is committing extra resources to the case. Residents told officers they were asked to share any video covering the late afternoon and early evening.
Officials confirmed Milner’s age and name and said he lived at the apartment with his mother. The Riverstock Apartments sit along Arnold Mill Road near retail strips and single-family neighborhoods. The shooting stunned long-time tenants who said patrol cars are seldom seen there. The lack of immediate suspect information left key questions open: who fired the shots, how the shooter entered or left, and whether anyone involved knew the victim. Investigators did not indicate that the wider public faced ongoing danger tied to this incident.
Woodstock typically reports few homicides in a year, and serious assaults in the city are uncommon. In recent metro cases, local departments have partnered with the GBI for ballistics testing and scene processing; that approach is underway here as detectives examine shell casings, doorbell recordings and any license plate reader hits near Arnold Mill Road. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office often coordinates with city police on witness interviews and canvassing beyond city limits when tips lead outside Woodstock.
Next steps include autopsy results, lab analysis of evidence collected at the complex, and follow-up interviews with residents who were home Monday evening. If a suspect is identified, warrants would be sought through Cherokee County. Court filings would outline the charges and a first appearance date. Police said updates will be released as they confirm details to avoid jeopardizing the investigation. No community briefing had been scheduled as of Tuesday night.
By late evening, only a few lights glowed in the apartment windows as officers cruised through the lot. A maintenance worker pointed to chalk markings where investigators had documented evidence the night before. “People are stunned,” the worker said. “You don’t expect this here.” A resident said detectives asked about visitors and vehicles seen before sunset and whether anyone heard raised voices or a single sharp burst of gunfire.
As of Tuesday night, detectives continued to collect video and run forensic tests while coordinating with state and county partners. The next official update is expected after lab results and the initial round of interviews are complete.
Author note: Last updated January 28, 2026.