24-year-old who survived cancer fatally shot when he discovers break-in, GA friends say
A 24-year-old who survived cancer was fatally shot when he stumbled upon people breaking into his car, Georgia officials said.
Knox Panter was just a kid when he developed cancer and lost an eye, family friends told multiple news outlets.
As he grew older, he became known as a hard worker who owned a tree-trimming business, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Monday, Dec. 13.
“He took incredible care of his grandparents, never complained, always put others first,” family friend Donald Pridgen told WGCL.
Loved ones said Panter was near his grandparents’ house when his life was cut short on Dec. 10.
The East Point Police Department said a resident went outside and saw people trying to get into his car.
“Gunshots were heard and the perpetrators fled the scene in a dark in color small four door sedan,” police wrote in a Facebook post. “The victim was transported to Atlanta Medical South for treatment and later died of his injuries.”
Officers said the shooting happened at about 1:15 a.m. on East Woodland Circle and Winburn Drive. The area is roughly eight miles south of downtown Atlanta.
Though police in their Facebook post didn’t name the person who died, news outlets identified him as Panter.
“You can imagine you know the pain and suffering, but also the fear and anger that has come with this,” Pridgen told WXIA. “We are robbed, we are all robbed of someone that brought tremendous joy and just the level of how senseless this all (was) ... I mean it was avoidable.”
Panter reportedly showed “tremendous grace” after his own mom died of cancer in 2012. He is remembered as a “sweet, quiet, gentle, hard working, decent person, beloved by all who knew him,” Kelly Pridgen, another family friend, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Officers shared photos of possible break-in suspects and asked anyone with information to call police at 404-761-2177 or email aglover@eastpointcity.org.
The East Point Police Department and Facebook users believed to be the Pridgens didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ requests for additional details on Dec. 14.
This story was originally published December 14, 2021 at 12:37 PM with the headline "24-year-old who survived cancer fatally shot when he discovers break-in, GA friends say."
