High-speed chase ends in death in Little Five Points

A high-speed police chase turned deadly Monday evening, April 14, when a fleeing driver crashed into another vehicle in Little Five Points, killing a 19-year-old motorist.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia State Patrol troopers attempted to stop a speeding Chevrolet Equinox on I-20 near the Boulevard exit around 8 p.m. The driver, identified as 23-year-old Faduma Mohamed, refused to stop and exited the interstate onto Moreland Avenue, weaving through traffic at high speeds, according to GSP officials.

Mohamed ran a red light at the intersection of Moreland and McLendon Avenue and struck a gold Honda Accord on the driver’s side. The Honda then slammed into the Little Five Corner Tavern. Its driver, 19-year-old Cooper Schoenke, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mohamed was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. She now faces multiple charges, including felony murder, vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and drug possession.

The incident adds to growing scrutiny over the Georgia State Patrol’s pursuit policies. An AJC investigation found that nearly half of GSP chases over a five-year period ended in crashes, with 66 resulting in fatalities—many of whom were bystanders or passengers.

Unlike most states, Georgia does not require supervisory oversight during pursuits, even in high-risk conditions.

A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, at 3:30 p.m. at the intersection where the crash took place to call for an end to high-speed pursuits by the Georgia State Patrol. Expected speakers include State Representatives Park Cannon, Gabriel Sanchez, and Eric Bell as well as Atlanta City Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari.