The LaGrange community has been rocked by the tragic killing of 14-year-old Demarrion Carter, who was shot outside his own home on Monroe Street. The incident occurred just before 7:45 p.m. on a Friday night, according to WSB-TV. Sadly, Carter was pronounced dead at the hospital after his family members rushed him there in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. The local police have launched an investigation, but the suspect remains unidentified and the motives unclear.
While the detectives continue their work, the story of Carter's life and potential cut brutally short has touched many, especially within the Empowerment 3D youth group where he was a member. "Had I known that was my last meeting with him, I would’ve stopped and held him, and I would’ve kept him in my arms," Jerome Cofield, the founder of Empowerment 3D, expressed his grief in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta. Carter was seen as a young man with aspirations, often speaking about his dreams of playing sports and becoming a basketball player.
Known for its commitment to mentoring in "three dimensions" – focusing on students, sons, and their dads – Empowerment 3D and Cofield have been guiding local youth in life skills and community service for years. The sudden loss of Carter, taken violently from a community he was actively involved in bettering, has left a void for those who worked closely with him. Cofield remembered Carter as more than a mentee, seeing him as a son, and lamented the tragedy, stating to FOX 5 Atlanta, "He was dear. He was more than just a mentee. He was my son, and he listened to everything I asked him to do."
The search for answers continues, with local law enforcement urging the community to step forward with any information. Cofield, advocating for justice for the boy who always sought to help others, said, "If you know something, say something. That is the main thing that we have to do. We gotta do this for Demarrion Carter." Tips to assist in the investigation can be directed to Detective C. Brown at 706-883-2620 or anonymously through Troup County CrimeStoppers at 706-812-1000. Text tips can be sent with the keyword LAGRANGE to 847411 or submitted using the Tip411 mobile app, as articulated by FOX 5 Atlanta.
