Homeowner arrested after police say he shot alleged ‘porch pirates’

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum speaks at a press conference following a shooting at Northside Hospital medical facility on May 3, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.

ATLANTA, GA – MAY 3: Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum speaks at a press conference following a shooting at Northside Hospital medical facility on May 3, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Police say one person was killed and four others injured in the shooting and the suspect, Deion Patterson, has been captured. Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)

Want to see more of NewsNation? Get 24/7 fact-based news coverage with the NewsNation app or add NewsNation as a preferred source on Google!

(NewsNation) — Two teens are recovering after authorities say they were shot while trying to steal packages from a home in Atlanta last week.

At a press conference, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said officers believe the homeowner opened fire on two boys, ages 15 and 16, to prevent the teens from stealing packages off of his porch.

Rakim Bradford, 34, was taken into custody that night and charged with two counts of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

The alleged “porch pirates” were transported to Grady Hospital for injuries sustained in the shooting and are in stable condition, as reported by USA Today.

No charges have been announced against the teens, and their identities remain undisclosed.

Crime

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20260112181412