A Gwinnett County community is mourning after a domestic violence incident resulted in two deaths. Last Friday afternoon, 21-year-old Eliajia Whitley was found fatally shot in her vehicle outside the BioLife Plasma Services center in Duluth. Police identified her ex-boyfriend, 23-year-old Caprice Hudson, as the suspect, according to Fox 5 Atlanta
Authorities later located Hudson in Columbia County, leading to a car chase that ended with a PIT maneuver by sheriff’s deputies. Hudson was found dead in his vehicle from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Whitley’s family had previously told police they suspected Hudson was involved in her death, a suspicion confirmed by authorities.
Elajia Whitley’s family is raising awareness about domestic violence following her death. Her aunt, Rhoda Alexander, said, “Elajia is so many beautiful things that you can say about her,” and added, “Unfortunately, the person that took her life didn’t see that. He didn’t see the beauty in her. He didn’t see the love that her family surrounded her with. If he did, he was jealous of that.” Her stepfather, Alfred Uzomah, said, “Elajia has always resonated light, and the light that she was resonating, it came from her heart,” as reported by Atlanta News First. On Sunday, the family held a balloon release in her honor. Authorities reported the case is connected to domestic violence.
