A 16-year-old boy is dead and his killer remains unidentified after a shooting at the Oak Run Apartments in Clayton County near Jonesboro. Jayden Miller was shot following what his family describes as a physical fight that escalated, and relatives say the gunman ran off into nearby woods. Clayton County Police have not made an arrest, and the investigation remains active.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Miller was shot and killed Tuesday night at the apartment complex, though WSB-TV reported he was found with a gunshot wound early Tuesday morning; the two outlets differ on the exact timing. Miller's family told FOX 5 that a physical fight escalated before someone pulled out a firearm, shot him, and ran off into the woods. It remains unclear what specific argument triggered the fight before the shooting, per the same report.
Sister Describes a Play Fight That Turned Deadly
Miller's sister, Gabbi Hood Miller, gave WSB-TV her own account of what happened, saying her brother and another friend went outside to play fight, and that the friend told her he heard a shot and found Miller on the ground. The station's report also cites the sister saying the alleged shooter was a friend who was trying to impress his girlfriend, though that detail has not been independently confirmed. Gabbi Hood Miller did not mince words about the outcome, posted via Instagram
: “Senseless, senseless. Don't bring a gun to a hand fight and just ran off into the woods.”
Jayden Miller's cousin, Shakira Terry, used the moment to call for broader change, urging an end to easy access to firearms in local communities. “It shouldn't be that easy to pick up a gun and shoot someone,” Terry said. “That's what Jayden would want us to work on.” Relatives have echoed that sentiment, warning that weapons do not solve disputes and only cause more problems for families and for the people who use them.
Family Gathers at Complex to Plead for Help
Miller's family gathered at the apartment complex to plead for help from the community, hoping someone with information will come forward. Clayton County Police have said that no one is in custody and have not publicly identified the person who killed Miller. People with information about the shooting are urged to contact Clayton County Police investigators immediately.
Relatives remember Miller as a helpful teenager who cut grass and did yard work for neighbors, and who enjoyed watching anime in his free time. He was preparing to attend Job Corps, and his sister told WSB-TV he had also planned to go to trade school in North Carolina, where the family is originally from.
Family Hopes to Bury Teen Beside His Mother
Relatives hope to transport Miller's body back to his hometown in Eastern North Carolina so he can be buried alongside his mother, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. To help cover funeral costs, the family has set up an online GoFundMe campaign. The shooting is one of several involving teenagers in Clayton County this year; in June, a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed on Mount Zion Road during what police described as an ongoing dispute, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
