A pre-dawn tragedy rocked Atlanta’s Mozley Park neighborhood on Saturday, May 3, when a massive tree collapsed onto a home, killing 10-year-old Aerica Dixon and injuring two family members.
Emergency crews with Atlanta Fire Rescue responded around 3 a.m. to the 1400 block of Mims Street SW, where they discovered the devastating aftermath: a snapped, hollow tree had crashed through the roof, directly hitting the bedroom where Aerica was sleeping.
The fourth-grader at KIPP WAYS Academy was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her mother and grandmother, who were also inside the home, were rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
They are expected to recover physically, though the emotional toll is immeasurable.
“This is a tragedy, there’s no other way to say it,” said Atlanta Fire spokesperson Anaré Holmes, according to Atlanta News First.
A tearful 14-year-old Akiylah Dixon, Aerica’s older sister, recalled the terrifying moment when the tree split through their home and her sister’s life was taken.
“She was my best friend,” Akiylah said, clutching a photo of her sister amid the wreckage.
Residents say the tree had been splintered since August, when it first sustained damage and was never removed.
Though other trees nearby were marked for removal, this one remained dangerously hollow and overhanging the house.
Officials with the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office, Atlanta Police, and Public Works spent hours clearing the site and documenting the scene.
The American Red Cross is now assisting the displaced family with temporary housing and emergency services.
Mozley Park residents are now calling for greater urgency and accountability from city agencies regarding tree safety inspections and emergency removal efforts in older neighborhoods.
Aerica is remembered as a bright student and a joyful child whose laughter filled her home and school hallways.
A memorial is growing outside the home, with candles, stuffed animals, and handwritten notes left by classmates and neighbors who refuse to let her memory fade.
