Decatur Police are now investigating the murder of a 17 year-old on the city's east side.

According to a release sent Friday morning, police received an emergency call of shots fired just before 11:30 p.m. Thursday. The caller heard gunshots and told police a bullet struck their home in the 400 block of South 23rd Street.

When police arrived on scene, they found 17 year-old Caleb Witty had been shot and was laying unresponsive in the 2200 block of East Johns Avenue. The teen was taken to St. Mary's Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The preliminary investigation reveals that Witty and his 14 year-old sister were walking home near the corner of 22nd Street and Johns Avenue when they were approached by two men who demanded money from the girl. Police say Witty stepped in between his sister and the suspect, who was holding a handgun. The suspect allegedly hit the 17 year-old with the handgun as his sister ran home to safety.

The girl told police as she ran, she heard a gunshot. The girl summoned her mother from their home and the two of them ran back to the scene to help administer CPR on the 17 year-old victim.

The teen girl told police they were walking home from McDonalds and had been at the Decatur Celebration carnival earlier in the evening.

Deputy Chief of Investigations David Dickerson says this was "an absolutely cold hearted and despicable crime. It sickens me to see a 14 year old in a police interview room being told that her brother, who bravely stepped between her and the assailants, was fatally wounded".

The first suspect is described as a black man, in his early to mid twenties, 6'0", 150 lbs, wearing a black shirt and jeans and carrying a black handgun. The suspect is said to have a gap in his teeth.

The second suspect is described as a black man, 6'0", over 200 lbs, with short hair, wearing a black shirt and jeans.

Police say the two suspects were initially observed by the victims while the suspects loitered on the sidewalk area just south of the BP Gas Station at the corner of 22nd and Wood Street.

Anyone with information about this case should contact Decatur Police, 424-2711, or Crime Stoppers, 423-TIPS.