Atlanta Police: Suspect Found Dead In Fulton Assistant DA Shooting

Statement from the Family of April McConnell

This has been an extremely difficult time for our family. We will never be able to answer the question of why this tragedy occurred.  In addition to ourselves, the lives of two other families have been terribly impacted by the events that transpired last Friday morning.

The medical staff at Grady Memorial Hospital has been excellent and compassionate in caring for April and we are truly grateful for their professionalism and steadfastness. The work and unwavering support of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Atlanta Police Department has been heartening and exemplary.

The support and prayers of family, friends and well-wishers throughout Atlanta and the entire country have uplifted us. We ask for your continued prayers for April. Our faith keeps us sustained that April will recover from her injuries.

April is in critical, but stable condition. Our family will decide if further updates will be provided. Until that time, we request that you respect our privacy as our focus, energy and attention must be on April’s recovery.

UPDATE at 6:30 p.m.

WABE’s Michelle Wirth reports the Atlanta Police Department believes the suspect is Tranard McConnell. An APD official said they found McConnell’s body ten feet off the bank of a pond near a College Park cemetery in three to four feet of water. Police believe McConnell died after shooting himself in the head.

An APD official said McConnell is the estranged husband of Fulton County Assistant District Attorney April McConnell. She was rushed to Grady Memorial hospital after being shot multiple times in a car outside a Southwest Atlanta home. Another person in the same car was shot and sent to Grady. They say McConell is in critical condition. In the 6 p.m. briefing to reporters, an APD official did not disclose the relationship of April McConnell and the other person who was shot.

Before the 6 p.m. briefing, WABE’s Michelle Wirth spoke with someone who identified himself as friend of Tranard McConnell. The friend said McConnell worked in Human Resources and provided a lawn service as a side job. The friend said one of the McConnell’s filed for divorce but did not know if the marital problems have a connection to the shooting. The friend said he was shocked by the news.

UPDATE AT 4:36 p.m.

In an email to WABE’s Rose Scott, Yvette Jones, a spokeswoman for Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, confirmed “April McConnell, the Assistant District Attorney who was shot today is employed with our office.”

UPDATE AT 4:33 p.m.

After law enforcement authorities spoke to reporters in the 2 p.m. hour,  WABE’s Michelle Wirth filed this report for our 4 p.m. newscast.

Hear WABE's Michelle Wirth's report from our 4pm newscast.

 An assistant Fulton County District Attorney was shot this afternoon in an apparent domestic situation, according to county sources who spoke with WABE News.  The sources say another person also may have been shot.  

The assistant DA was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, in apparently critical condition, according to the sources, who say the attack took place at a home in Southwest Atlanta.

Other sources say District Attorney Paul Howard, who was out of town, is now returning to Atlanta, and should arrive later this afternoon.