Murder of Area Barnett: Vigil's friend did not want to leave the case unmentioned

ATLANTA – Four months after a 25-year-old woman was shot and killed at a bus stop in West Atlanta, her close friends are demanding an explanation for her killing.

“That was my buddy, my sister, one of my closest friends,” Saphirre Brown said.

She says she spoke to 25-year-old Area Barnett on the phone several times a day.

“That's what our relationship was like: call in the morning, call in the afternoon, play a game together, just answer the phone,” Brown said.

Atlanta police investigators say Area was killed in May at the bus stop near Harwell Road and Collier Drive near Interstate 285.

Investigators believe she was shot by someone with whom she had an argument there.

Her body was discovered by a film crew.

Four months later, Atlanta police have still not identified a suspect, let alone made any arrests.

When FOX 5 contacted APD about the investigation, they said there was no update.

“I talk to her family a lot, and they haven't given them any news either,” Brown said.

Brown refuses to let her friend's case rest.

She posted about her on social media and continues to press investigators for answers.

“They think we're just going to give up. Well, I'm not going to give up. I'm here, but I'm not giving up on my friend. I'm not giving up hope of finding out what happened to her,” Brown said.

She is now calling on the man who shot Area to turn himself in.

“You know my friend did not deserve what happened. You know my friend did not deserve to be killed. Everyone makes mistakes, but you have to face the consequences one way or another. So step forward in the right way,” she said.

Brown also asks anyone who knows what happened to Area to contact police.

You can remain anonymous by reporting through Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477).