Atlanta police: Stepfather fatally shot teen during quarantine fight

ATLANTA — A teenager was fatally shot by his stepfather during a fight that may have been related to the coronavirus pandemic, Atlanta police said.

Bernie Hargrove, 42, was charged Thursday morning with felony murder in the death of De’onte Roberts, 16, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Roberts’ mother told police the teen defied his mother and stepfather’s orders to stay inside due to the virus outbreak and left the house, the newspaper reported.

“Later, the victim returned to the home and kicked in the door to the house where a physical fight began between the suspect and the victim,” police spokesman Steve Avery said.

The stepfather shot the teen multiple times Wednesday night, police told news outlets. The boy was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Hargrove was booked into the Fulton County Jail. It’s unclear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

“Tensions get high because you’re in the same space, day in and day out,” Atlanta Police Capt. D’Andrea Price said. “However, when the pressure gets high, you just have to take a deep breath and you have to separate.”