An after-prom gathering in the Powder Springs area turned tragic when a former Campbell High School student, identified as Ashton Hornsby, 17, was shot and killed. The incident occurred at a home off New MacLand Road just after midnight on Sunday, before spreading to a nearby parking lot where the victim was found. Atlanta News First reports that Carlos Diaz, 18, has been arrested in connection with the shooting.
According to the information published by FOX5 Atlanta, the police quickly responded to the scene at West Cobb Plaza, where they discovered Hornsby suffering from a chest wound. Despite being rushed to Cobb WellStar Hospital, Hornsby later succumbed to his injuries. Diaz reportedly told police he fired the fatal shots because he feared to be jumped, following a previous dispute with Hornsby whom he claimed to be known to carry guns. Despite not seeing a weapon, Diaz admitted to discharging his firearm after Hornsby appeared to be reaching underneath his shirt.
Local resident Sara Ritchey recounted the moment the shots rang out to Atlanta News First, saying, "We had just gotten to bed a little after midnight, and we heard three, three shots go off." Later, Ritchey observed "all these children—they're children! 15, 16, maybe even a little bit older, all over the place." By the time first responders arrived, around 200 young adults were reported to be in the area. "It's very tragic. My heart goes out to both of them. Both families are dealing with something that I can't even imagine," said Ritchey.
The aftermath of the event is rippling through the local community, with Campbell High School Principal Vanessa Watkins addressing the impact in a letter to parents. "While this tragedy didn't have anything to do with our school directly, we have already begun hearing how it is affecting our students," Watkins wrote, as detailed by Atlanta News First. "I can’t put into words how much this hurts." The school has made counselors and crisis team members available to assist students in processing the loss. Diaz is now facing charges, including felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime.
As this incident continues to be under investigation, the Powder Springs Police Department urges anyone with information to step forward. They can be contacted at 770-943-1616.
