ATLANTA — Police are actively searching for a person of interest following the fatal shooting of Akash Banerjee, a 22-year-old Georgia Tech student, at The Connector Apartments on Sunday night. The incident occurred in the off-campus complex frequently used by Georgia Tech students, sparking alarm within the campus community.
Banerjee was shot in the head after an argument in the ninth-floor hallway of the apartment building. Authorities say the confrontation appears to have been targeted, revealing that the shooter and Banerjee knew each other, reports Atlanta News First.
Surveillance footage released by police showed the person of interest waiting for Banerjee about ten minutes before the shooting, reports Rough Draft Atlanta. The individual, seen carrying a firearm, had visited the building earlier in search of Banerjee, according to investigators.
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Despite efforts by medical staff at Grady Memorial Hospital, Banerjee passed away Tuesday night. Atlanta police confirmed during a Wednesday press conference that they are still piecing together the relationship between the victim and the person of interest. They also noted that Banerjee had a criminal history, though details remain unclear at this time.
Shooting Prompts Calls from Students for Increased Security, Visitor Management
The shooting has left residents of The Connector Apartments shaken and increasingly concerned about their safety. The complex, which usually requires a key card for entry and mandates guest sign-ins, is now facing questions about how the shooter accessed the building undetected, reports Atlanta First News. Some students and visitors are demanding enhanced security measures, including more vigilant monitoring of guests and stricter identification checks at entry points.
Management at The Connector Apartments has since responded by tightening building protocols. New rules require guests to provide both a first and last name, along with the name of the resident they are visiting, when signing in. Additionally, a 10 p.m. curfew for common areas has been introduced, a step Georgia Tech student residents say is a welcome reassurance.
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Atlanta police have urged anyone with information regarding the incident or the individual seen in the surveillance video to come forward as the investigation continues.
