Bad Dog Taqueria Owner Tracy Mitchell Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run [Updated]

Tracy Mitchell, chef and owner at Bad Dog Taqueria in Emory Village, was arrested by DeKalb County police Wednesday and charged with first-degree homicide by vehicle, reckless driving, and two counts of hit and run. Mitchell was involved in a hit-and-run accident that killed photographer Emily Cameron on Arizona Avenue around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.

In addition to her work as a food and lifestyle photographer, Cameron served as a bartender at The Pinewood in Decatur. Owner Julian Goglia told Eater Atlanta Cameron and Mitchell were friends and lamented the loss of his colleague.

"She had her hands in so many awesome projects and businesses," Goglia said. "We were one of many groups of people that loved her. She was a bartender at Pinewood, a food photographer all over the East Coast, an amazing artist, and one hell of a friend. This makes no sense. We will miss her."

Mitchell turned herself in to police Wednesday night. Atlanta police spokesperson Kim Jones told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Preliminary investigations indicate that the victim was exiting a vehicle when the driver of the vehicle accelerated in reverse knocking the victim to the ground and striking her. The suspect fled the scene after the accident." Police sources told Channel 2 Action News the driver got out of the car, checked the victim's pulse, and then drove away.

Bad Dog Taqueria is located in Emory Village and Mitchell has been working on a second outpost in Old Fourth Ward, but future plans are now uncertain. She previously hosted a regular Bad Dog pop-up in the kitchen at Joystick Gamebar on Edgewood Avenue. Joystick co-owner Johnny Martinez, a personal friend of Mitchell's, told Eater Atlanta he's sick to his stomach over the situation.

"Our thoughts are with Emily's family and friends and the staff at Bad Dog," Martinez said. "We can't wrap our brains around it all. It's such a tragedy."

This story has been updated with comment from The Pinewood owner Julian Goglia, who worked with Emily Cameron.