Police probe slaying of Kennesaw, GA man

Saturday, April 19, 2014

KENNESAW, Ga. - A security guard at a suburban Atlanta mall was shot early Saturday and police said a suspect was found a few miles away with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Cobb County police said officers were sent to an area near Town Center at Cobb in Kennesaw in response to a 911 call around 12:20 a.m. Saturday.

They found the guard, 23-year-old Zakeem Berry, of Kennesaw, in the roadway with a gunshot wound. He was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he died.

Police said they later found a suspect at a grocery store a few miles away in Acworth, where he had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was taken to by ambulance to the hospital, where he also died.

Town Center at Cobb is one of the area's largest malls.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our sincere condolences go out to the family of the security officer," Town Center management said in a statement to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

"Mall management is working closely with the Cobb County police to share any details that may assist in the investigation of this senseless crime that is extremely shocking to all of us," it said.

Police did not immediately know of a possible motive in the shooting, Cobb County police spokesman Mike Bowman said.