ATLANTA — Two suspects have been identified in the shooting death of a 7-year-old girl, according to Atlanta police.

Seven-year-old Ava Phillips was shot and killed at a family gathering at Camden Vantage apartments on Saturday, Aug. 27.

Detectives have since arrested Kemeka Springfield, 44, and confirmed Tuesday that she is Phillips’ mother. She has been charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. She has not been charged with murder.

Police also identified a second suspect, 23-year-old Deshon Collins, but he is still at-large. Collins is reportedly facing charges of murder, cruelty towards children, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

On Saturday night, police said an argument broke out at a family gathering at the Camden Vantage Apartments, situated between the northeast Atlanta neighborhoods of the Old Fourth Ward and Sweet Auburn. Shots were fired, and police were called to the Jackson Street complex around 10:15 p.m.

When they got there, they found Phillips with a gunshot wound to the head. She did not survive.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis spoke about Phillips’ death Monday morning.

“It broke my heart to watch,” she said. “Another precious life stolen...We have too many guns in the wrong hands and too much freedom to get guns.”

On Sunday, the little girl’s father, Jonathan Phillips, spoke with WSB′s Veronica Griffin. He said he won’t sleep until her murderer is off of the streets.

“She was a good girl, man. She didn’t deserve this,” Phillips added.

>> Father remembers 7-year-old daughter shot and killed at Atlanta apartment: “She was amazing”

The family has also started a GoFundMe campaign to help raise money for funeral expenses.

A special vigil has been planned for Tuesday.

©2022 Cox Media Group