A Valentine's Day shooting in DeKalb County has left one family grappling with the loss of 23-year-old Paul Wilson and his mother wounded, while another incident in Lithonia ends fatally for an unidentified victim, both families now united in a quest for answers and justice. In a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta, James Wilson mourned his younger brother, saying, "It's crazy," and that the sudden nature of the tragedy left the family without a moment to say their goodbyes.
Paul Wilson and the injured woman, who is still in recovery, were allegedly shot in the presence of her four-year-old child, a detail that has heightened the anguish for relatives like Zoey Williams who told FOX 5 Atlanta, "That's a cruel person. That's a heartless person. The child is having post-traumatic episodes. He needs to be held accountable," DeKalb County police are on the hunt for 44-year-old Javoka Shumaker, encouraging anyone with information to step forward.
The sorrow extends to Lithonia where another shooting at Stonecrest apartment complex took a life and left another hanging in the balance, the scenes of violence blighting the promise of Valentine's Day with stark reality; although police believe there is no ongoing threat to the community, the shooter's identity and motives remain obscured. According to Hoodline, officers found the victims upon arrival at the Windward Forest apartments and where one was pronounced dead at the scene, the second victim was whisked away to a hospital, gripping to life. Clues are scarce as investigators comb the site littered with the remnants of the crime and while evidence markers denote the severity of the offense, details are closely guarded by investigators.
Residents like Julie Almond provide glimpses into the moments that shattered their sleep and shook the complex, telling reporters, "It sounded about four or five, and I heard a female screaming," articulating the terror that engulfed the neighborhood around 5:45 a.m. The auditory nightmare of gunshots and screams ushered in a sobering daybreak. As reported by the AJC, Almond added, "I stayed in my bed," her response emblematic of the fright that gripped those who could do little more than wait for authorities to arrive and take control of the chaos.
DeKalb County Police urging anyone who might know something, anything to reach out at (770) 724-7850. For the Wilson family and those affected by the subsequent Lithonia shooting, solace earns its keep as distant hope as the days that "go by, and he is still out here free like he didn't murder someone," recounted a heartbroken James Wilson to FOX 5 Atlanta.
