An Atlanta chef is facing serious charges after allegedly shooting two teenagers he believed were trying to steal a package from outside his home in the middle of the day.
Rakim Bradford has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and illegal possession of a firearm during a felony, following an incident involving a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old in the Maze neighborhood of Atlanta on Thursday around 3:40 p.m.
As reported on LinkedIn, Bradford, who works as a district executive chef for IHOP, noticed the teens by his front door while at his residence on Southwest Celeste Lane. This information was relayed by the Atlanta Police Department.
Authorities suspect the teenagers were at the Village of Cascades complex prior to the incident, where they followed a delivery van. According to Bradford’s arrest warrant, they had intended to steal the package once it was dropped off at his home.
Allegedly, after spotting the teens, Bradford confronted them as they attempted to take the package and shot them before they could make off with the deliveries.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schielbaum remarked that, “It appears a property crime was in progress. Package thefts are particularly common this time of year.” He mentioned that the homeowner used his gun to try to prevent the theft.
Following the shooting, one teenager was found with a bullet wound in his right leg, while the other had a gunshot wound to his right arm. Both were taken to the hospital, with one in critical condition but expected to recover after surgery.
Schielbaum emphasized the department’s serious stance on gun violence, stating that every case involving harm to children is taken with utmost seriousness. After the incident, Bradford was taken in for questioning by authorities.
No charges have been announced against the two teenagers, and police confirmed that it wasn’t a case of home invasion.
Some neighbors have expressed concern about the rise of package thefts in the area. One resident, Andrew Julian, highlighted a dilemma: while theft is wrong, the extent of force used to protect one’s property can be contentious.
