A Fourth of July family gathering in Ellenwood ended in tragedy Saturday night when a man was shot and later pronounced dead on the 500 block of Brenston Boulevard. Clayton County police identified the victim as Devarsity Smith and said officers found him suffering from a gunshot wound when they arrived. A woman who fled the scene in a vehicle was later taken into custody and is being held as the judicial process gets underway.
Investigation so far
Officers responded to reports of gunfire around 10:20 p.m. Saturday and found Smith in the area where family members had gathered. Investigators said the shooting happened during a family event and that those involved reportedly knew one another. Police said Danielle Jamil Ross ran from the neighborhood after the gunfire but was later tracked down and arrested.
Ross faces charges that, according to police, include felony murder, reckless conduct, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and two weapons counts, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. Investigators said they are still working to piece together exactly what led up to the shooting and have not publicly released a suspected motive.
Felony murder charge and Georgia law
The counts listed by investigators in the department’s initial statement will now be reviewed by prosecutors in the Clayton County judicial circuit. Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-1), a killing that occurs during the commission of a felony can be prosecuted as murder and may carry penalties up to life imprisonment or death, depending on the circumstances of the case, as outlined by Justia. Authorities emphasize that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Violence has neighbors on edge
The fatal shooting in Ellenwood comes amid a summer marked by deadly gunfire in Clayton County. A separate deadly shooting along Mt. Zion Road in late June recently drew attention from local media, adding to community concerns about violence close to home. Residents in Ellenwood and surrounding neighborhoods are now watching closely as investigators sort through what happened at the holiday gathering on Brenston Boulevard.
How to share information with police
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact Clayton County police. The department accepts anonymous tips and offers both a text line and an online portal for submissions. According to the Clayton County Police Department, residents can text “CLAYTONPD” plus their tip to 274637 (CRIMES), call 770-477-3747, or use the department’s online system to upload photos or video that could help investigators.
