The driver said masked passengers discussed the attack moments after gunfire on Sawtell Avenue.
ATLANTA, Ga. — A rideshare driver said two masked men entered her car shortly after a southeast Atlanta tattoo artist was shot Monday night, giving investigators another account in a case with no announced arrests.
Atlanta police responded to Sawtell Avenue before 7:30 p.m. Monday and found a 30-year-old man wounded in the chest and hand. The man, known as “FreeTattoos,” said he was riding a scooter away from his driveway when gunfire erupted. He was released from the hospital Tuesday morning.
Darilyn Murriell, a Lyft driver, said two masked men and a woman got into her vehicle moments after the shooting. She said the passengers talked about having just shot a “tattoo man” nearby and said they were fleeing. Police have not said whether anyone in the vehicle has been identified, where the passengers were dropped off or whether Murriell’s account has led to suspects.
Neighbors said they saw two masked men armed with guns firing at the tattoo artist as he left his driveway on a scooter. The victim said he heard about 10 shots before bullets struck him. Doctors later told him one bullet came within two centimeters of his heart, he said. The victim said he did not know the attackers and did not know why anyone would target him.
The shooting unfolded in a residential area of southeast Atlanta, where accounts from the victim, neighbors and the rideshare driver point to a quick attack followed by a fast escape. Investigators have not released a full suspect description beyond the reference to masked men. They also have not described the guns used, the number of shots confirmed by evidence or whether cameras recorded the gunmen before or after the shooting.
The victim’s release from the hospital shifted the case from an emergency response to an active search for suspects. Detectives are expected to review witness statements, physical evidence and any available video or rideshare records. No motive has been announced, and police have not said whether the woman who allegedly rode with the masked men is considered a suspect or witness.
Murriell’s account stands out because it places people she described as suspects inside a vehicle shortly after the attack. Her statement also gives police a possible timeline after the gunfire, though officials have not confirmed how closely it matches evidence gathered at the scene.
The tattoo artist remained in recovery Wednesday while Atlanta police continued looking for the people who shot him. As of May 13, police had not announced arrests, charges or a public briefing date.
Author note: Last updated May 13, 2026.