“I was in shock:” Woman’s car hit with 32 bullets in shooting at Loca Luna

ATLANTA — A woman told Channel 2 her car was shot 32 times during a shooting at a popular Atlanta restaurant sent people running for their lives Sunday night.

“I was in shock,” said Katherine, who asked us not to use her last name due to safety concerns.

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Katherine was enjoying a fun night with friends around 10:30 p.m. Sunday when bullets started flying at Loca Luna on Amsterdam Avenue in northeast Atlanta.

“The shooting seemed like it was indoors, that’s why everyone started running toward the outside,” Katherine said.

When the shooting stopped, she walked over to the new Honda Accord she just bought three months ago. It was riddled with bullet holes. 32 shots, according to the police report Atlanta police gave Channel 2 Tuesday morning.

“I think the other person they were trying to get to was probably using my car as a shield, so I feel like that’s how my car got destroyed,” Katherine said.

In the report, witnesses describe at least two shooters, including one with what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle. One of the suspects is described in the report as having a teardrop tattoo and piercing on the left cheek next to the left eye.

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Around 20 minutes after the shooting at the restaurant, Atlanta police were called to a BP gas station on Piedmont Avenue about a mile and a half from Loca Luna where a man was shot in the leg. He told police he drove away from Loca Luna after someone shot his car. When he stopped at the gas station because of a flat tire, he said someone driving a red Dodge Durango pulled up and shot at him.

Now, Loca Luna’s doors are locked for good. The company that owns the building, Halpern Enterprises, terminated the lease agreement, citing this shooting and two others that happened here within the past year.

Halpern sent us this statement saying:

“The safety and wellbeing of our patrons and tenants is our top priority at Halpern Enterprises. We strive to be a positive force in each community where we conduct business. We have worked with the owners of Loca Luna in good faith regarding prior incidences at their restaurant. Unfortunately, the unlawful activity has continued. Effective 1/24/2022, per our rights within the agreement, Halpern Enterprises has terminated the lease with Loca Luna at Amsterdam Walk. Loca Luna’s owners have agreed to cease operations and remove their possessions.”

“Our Hispanic community, that’s our spot to go out. And just to keep us safe as well I think it’s a good idea to shut the place down,” Katherine said.

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Channel 2′s Christian Jennings asked an employee at the door whether the owner or anyone else wished to speak with us about the shooting, and was told no.

Landlord terminates Loca Luna’s lease after shooting in parking lot

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