A Georgia mother of three was shot and killed outside an elementary school while making a DoorDash delivery, triggering the evacuation of more than 550 students and a high-speed chase that ended with the suspect’s arrest two hours south of the scene.
Eboni Anderson, 34, died after Christopher Loris Ates, 39, allegedly shot her multiple times in the front roundabout of Palmetto Elementary School on Tuesday, Feb. 10, shortly after 11 a.m. School surveillance cameras captured the entire deadly encounter.
According to arrest warrants, Anderson drove her black GMC Acadia to the school’s front entrance at 11:07 a.m. to drop off a food order. Ates was sitting in the rear passenger seat, and Anderson’s 17-month-old son was also inside the vehicle. Anderson and Ates were in a relationship, her family told investigators.
The surveillance footage shows Anderson exiting the driver’s side and walking to the rear passenger door where Ates sat. She removed a pink duffle bag and two black backpacks from the backseat and placed them on the curb. Ates then stepped out of the vehicle and approached her.
The video captured Ates assaulting Anderson, causing her to fall to the ground. He then shot her multiple times before speeding away in her own SUV with the toddler still inside. Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene.
A staff member inside the school heard the gunshots and immediately hit an emergency alert button, triggering a hard lockdown and notifying police. Students were later evacuated by bus to Bear Creek Middle School, where anxious parents retrieved them. In a message sent to families, Palmetto Elementary Principal Jacqueline Bowens explained that authorities believe the shooting was the result of a domestic conflict that carried over onto school property.
“While this is an incredibly difficult circumstance for our community, I want to reassure you that no Palmetto Elementary students or staff were involved, and at no time were individuals inside our building in danger,” Bowens wrote.
Police searched the bags Ates left behind and found his Georgia ID cards and other personal items inside. A search of Fulton County Schools records revealed that Anderson’s children attended schools in the district, though none attended Palmetto Elementary. Anderson had no connection to the school—she was simply there to deliver food. Besides her 17-month-old son, Anderson also had 8-year-old twin boys.
Law enforcement agencies across multiple counties launched an immediate manhunt. According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, Ates had served 10 years in prison following a 2006 armed robbery conviction in Houston County. Jail records indicate multiple previous arrests.
The Warner Robins Police Department said Ates was spotted in the area of Russell Parkway and Highway 41, sparking a brief chase. Houston County warrants reveal that Ates drove 97 mph in a 35 mph zone before crashing into the back of a semi-truck on Highway 96. The chase ended in Twiggs County, roughly two hours south of Palmetto.
The child who had been in Anderson’s vehicle during the shooting remained in the car throughout the terrifying high-speed pursuit. Authorities charged Ates with cruelty to children, stating he caused “cruel or excessive physical or mental pain” to the child. Medics evaluated the child after the pursuit ended.
After the crash, Ates attempted to flee on foot into nearby woods but law enforcement quickly apprehended him. Houston County Sheriff Matt Moulton confirmed the suspect crashed his vehicle, ending the pursuit.
The Houston County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ates on Tuesday. The Fulton County Schools Police Department took custody of him on Thursday, when he was booked into the Fulton County Jail.
Ates is charged in Fulton County with several offenses, including felony murder, aggravated assault, having a weapon in a school safety zone, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and carrying a firearm while committing a crime.
In Houston County, he faces additional charges: willful obstruction of law enforcement officers, second-degree criminal damage to property, second-degree cruelty to children, reckless driving, and fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer.
“Our department responded quickly and worked around the clock with our law enforcement partners to ensure this suspect was taken into custody,” said FCSPD Chief Mark Sulborski. “Our focus remains on protecting our students, staff, and visitors.”
Fulton County Schools praised the multi-agency response, thanking the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Palmetto police, and South Fulton police for their assistance in the investigation.
Anderson’s stepfather, Tariq Robinson, told reporters his family is devastated by the loss. He said Anderson owned a weapon and carried it while making deliveries for protection. The family believes Ates, whom Anderson met online, used her own gun to kill her—though police have not confirmed this detail.
Robinson described Anderson as a devoted parent. “She was a great mother. She loved her boys. She did everything she could for them,” he said.
Ates remains in the Fulton County Jail pending prosecutorial review. District officials said that although the suspect is now in custody, prosecutors are still reviewing potential additional charges.
Counselors and additional support staff from the district’s CARE Team were made available at Palmetto Elementary as classes resumed. Anderson’s family has established a GoFundMe account to help cover funeral and burial costs as they cope with the sudden loss.
DoorDash stated that Anderson was on active duty at the time of the incident, adding that it is a tragic situation and that the company’s thoughts are with the Dasher’s loved ones.