A 17-year-old boy, who has been identified as Darrico Weir, was shot and killed while mowing a lawn in Clayton County. The fatal incident took place last Saturday evening around 8 p.m. in the 700 block of Villa Way, just outside of Jonesboro, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Responding officers discovered Weir unresponsive before medical personnel rushed him to a local hospital, where, he died from his injuries yesterday morning.
In a statement obtained by 11Alive News, the Clayton County Police Department conveyed that upon their arrival at the scene, they found Weir suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. A neighbor, choosing to remain anonymous, recollected that the teen had been tending to the yards of around five houses in the neighborhood, including his own, adding, "Honest kid, if I asked him to do something, he did it, never tried to overcharge me or any of those things, just a nice guy as far as I know."
The abrupt violence sent ripples through the local community, with several neighbors speaking to FOX 5 under the condition of anonymity due to safety concerns. One revealed that the incident unfolded during a birthday party for a 3-year-old, where children played in the street, saying, "We was having a birthday party for a 3-year-old. There was kids in the street playing. It’s just, I just moved here 3, 4 months ago and this happened literally three doors down from my house." The abrupt nature of the shooting stunned the community, prompting immediate calls to 911 by several children.
While the investigation continues, details regarding suspects or motives remain unclear. The Clayton County Police Department has yet to release information on a potential suspect, and according to 11Alive, a motive for the shooting has not been established. "This incident remains under active investigation," police said in a statement, "No further details are available at this time."
