Mayor: 8-year-old girl killed in Atlanta shooting

The mother of an eight-year-old girl who was shot and killed in Atlanta on American Independence Day expressed sadness about her daughter's death as police continued to look for at least two suspects.

Secoriea Turner was riding in a vehicle when the car which she was travelling in was targeted on Saturday night near a flash point of recent protests in the city.

Turner's mother was joined by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who called for justice during an emotional news conference.

Authorities have said they were seeking help from the public to identify those involved and released a wanted poster saying a person all dressed in black and another in a white T-shirt were being sought.

The shooting happened near a fast food restaurant where Rayshard Brooks was killed by an Atlanta police officer June 12.

The Wendy's was later burned, and the area has become a centre for demonstrations.

Authorities have said the mother had attempted to drive through illegally placed barricades in the area when the vehicle came under fire on Saturday night.

The girl was in a car with her mother and a friend of the mother when they got off Interstate-75/85 onto University Avenue and were trying to enter a parking lot nearby, according to authorities.

They ran into a group of armed individuals who had blocked the entrance.

Bottoms said there have been problems with protesters in the area putting up barriers to close off the street.

She said she received a message that the barriers were back up less than an hour before she was informed that the 8-year-old girl had died.

Police said two other people, in addition to the 8-year-old, were killed and more than 20 people were injured in incidents of gunfire and violence during the long holiday weekend.