Atlanta Man Preston Smith charged in shooting death of 7-year-old Zoey Price

ATLANTA – A man has been charged in connection with the shooting death of a 7-year-old girl nearly a week after she was killed inside her northwest Atlanta home.

According to an arrest warrant obtained by Georgia Newsday, Preston Smith faces multiple charges, including two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, second-degree criminal damage to property, third-degree cruelty to children, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Investigators say Smith allegedly fired into a home on Tiger Flowers Drive NW around 9:40 p.m. on Feb. 24. Inside the residence were 7-year-old Zoey Price and her mother, 44-year-old Cassandra Ervin. Both were struck by gunfire and transported to a hospital. Zoey later died from her injuries.

Police with the Atlanta Police Department believe the shooting stemmed from an argument between two men roughly 30 minutes before the gunfire erupted.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the men involved were likely known to each other. However, investigators do not believe the shooting was domestic-related or that the suspect is a family member of the victims.

Authorities are expected to hold a press conference later today to release additional details about the arrest and the ongoing investigation in Atlanta.