Two boys, ages 11 and 12, were fatally shot and two women were wounded during a Sept. 20 shooting at a Stone Mountain apartment complex. Authorities say the incident may be linked to an earlier fight after a football game; detectives are actively investigating and searching for suspects. Both boys attended nearby schools, which have sent grief counselors to support students and staff.
Two Pre-Teen Boys Killed, Two Women Wounded in Stone Mountain Apartment Shooting
Ja'Khi Clark; Ja'marion RolleCredit: Family Handout
Two pre-teen boys were killed and two women were injured in a shooting at an apartment complex in Stone Mountain, Georgia, on Sunday, Sept. 20, authorities and family members said.
DeKalb County Police Department (DCPD) officers responded to reports of multiple people shot and found 11-year-old Ja'marion Rolle with a fatal gunshot wound at the scene; he was pronounced dead there, local outlets reported. Twelve-year-old Ja'hki Clark was taken to a hospital and later died of his injuries, DCPD said.
A 19-year-old woman and a 39-year-old woman were transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition. Family members told reporters the 19-year-old is pregnant and was shot multiple times. PEOPLE and local stations WSB-TV, Atlanta News First and 11Alive reported the victims' identities and the details of the incident.
A photo of Ja'Khi Clark and Ja'marion Rolle.Credit: Family Handout
The boys' mother, who did not give her name to reporters, told WSB-TV the shooting followed a family barbecue and said the violence may have escalated from an earlier fight three days before, after a football game. She described members of the other family arriving at the gathering, a confrontation that turned physical and then into gunfire; those details come from the mother's account and remain under investigation.
Investigation Underway
The DeKalb County Police Department said its preliminary investigation suggests the shooting "may be connected to a fight or disagreement that occurred earlier in the day," and detectives are working to determine the full circumstances and identify suspects. No arrests have been announced.
Both boys attended local schools: Clark was a student at Stone Mountain Middle School and Rolle had recently started fifth grade at Stone Mill Elementary School. In response to the deaths, both schools have deployed grief counselors and support resources for students and staff.
"This is an unimaginable loss for the families involved and our entire community," the DCPD said in a statement reported by local media, offering condolences and calling the shooting a "senseless tragedy."
Authorities continue to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to contact the DeKalb County Police Department. PEOPLE has reached out to DCPD for further comment.
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