Car-Boot Argument Outside Buckhead Hookah Lounge Ends In Gunfire

ATLANTA, GA — A man faces multiple criminal charges after an argument over his car getting booted in Buckhead led to at least one gunshot being fired.

Gionni Matthews is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, reckless conduct and felony theft by taking in the shooting, which happened outside the Sahara Lounge, a hookah bar at 315 Pharr Rd.

According to the Atlanta Police Department, officers responded at 2:20 a.m. Friday to a "shots fired" call at that address. They were met by the victims — parking lot attendants who said they got into an argument with two men over parking lot fees.

The argument "stemmed over a booting issue," said police spokesman Officer Donald Hannah. One of the attendants, who had a valid concealed-weapons permit, had a gun in his waistband. Matthews took the attendant's gun out of his waistband during the argument, police said.

Seconds later, they say, he pointed a different gun at the parking lot attendants, then fired a shot into the air. The two men then got into a car and drove away.

A police lookout was announced for the vehicle and a Georgia State Patrol trooper spotted it near Pharr Road and stopped it at 10th Street and Spring Street, police said. A witness identified the suspects and both weapons involved in the incident were found with the men, Hannah said.

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