A family gathering in Atlanta took a tragic turn, resulting in the death of 7-year-old Ava Phillips, a female, on August 27, 2022. The incident occurred at the Camden Vantage apartments, where a domestic dispute escalated into gunfire. Ava was inside the apartment when she was struck by a gunshot to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two individuals were identified as suspects in the shooting.
One of the suspects, Kemeka Springfield, who is Ava's mother, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. She was not charged with murder. The second suspect, Deshon Collins, was identified and warrants were issued for his arrest on charges of murder, cruelty towards children, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Following the incident, Collins remained at large for a period of time, and the Atlanta Police Department released his photos to the public, seeking assistance in his capture. He was eventually apprehended on November 16, 2022, at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as he was attempting to leave the state. Collins was taken into custody without incident. Kameka Springfield was released on a $30,000 bond on September 8, 2022. Ava's father, Jonathan Phillips, who had full custody of Ava and her brother, had dropped her off at her mother's for the weekend. He organized a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral expenses.
