DeKalb County murder-suicide cited as example of gun risks

 A letter to the editor in Saturday's New York Times cites a DeKalb County murder-suicide as an example of the risks of having a gun in the home.

"Americans have been sold a myth about guns: that people are safer armed. Many have bought into this myth," writes Nina Vinik, founder and president of Project Unloaded, a nonprofit organization working against gun violence.

"This month, in DeKalb County, Ga., a man gunned down his girlfriend, her daughter and two young grandchildren. This tragedy ... is a harsh reminder of the fact that guns make us less safe," she writes.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the alleged shooter at the Vineyards at Flat Shoals apartment complex had a lengthy criminal history.

"By equipping Gen Z with information on how guns make them less safe, we can empower young people to reject the prevailing myth on guns, and that knowledge could save their lives," Vinik's letter concludes.

Northlake Square in Tucker sells for $17.3 million

Northlake Square, which includes an ALDI, Best Buy and Mellow Mushroom, has been purchased for $17.3 million by Greenberg Gibbons, an investment firm based in Baltimore, Md.

The 82,578-square-foot property off Interstate 285 at 4135 Lavista Rd. in Tucker, was built in 1988. It is Greenberg Gibbon's first entry in the state of Georgia.

"The acquisition of Northlake Square demonstrates the market's appetite for well-positioned, grocery-anchored retail centers within growing submarkets of major metros," said Jim Hamilton, Managing Director of JLL Capital Markets, which facilitated the sale.

"The center's strong tenant mix, led by ALDI and Best Buy, combined with its strategic location make it a valuable addition to any diversified portfolio," he said.

Best Buy's store at Northlake Square opened in 1995.

DeKalb County commissioners urge shortened extension of AMR ambulance contract

Facing a looming deadline, a committee of DeKalb County commissioners recommended on Friday that American Medical Response's contract to provide emergency ambulance service should only be extended for another 12 months. 

More than $2.26 million in penalties have been imposed on AMR during the past four years for failing to meet performance standards, DeKalb County Fire Chief Darnell Fullum told commissioners.

The company has faced criticism ever since it began its contract with DeKalb County in June 2013. The contract was amended in 2019 to include response times.

"AMR did not meet the performance measures that we had set out in our current contract," Fullum said. "We did assess penalties against AMR for not meeting those response times."