In the late spring of 2022, a vibrant gathering in Sandersville, Georgia, turned into a scene of tragedy. On Sunday, May 29, 30-year-old Christopher Eric Dunn Jr., known to his loved ones as “Scoota,” was at a Freaknik-themed music festival held at a private venue known as the Larry Mitchell Ballpark. The festive atmosphere was shattered by the sound of gunfire, leading to chaos and a stampede of attendees. When the pandemonium subsided, Christopher Dunn Jr. and a 17-year-old, William Mykell Lowery, were found to have been fatally shot. Dunn was transported to the Washington County Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the double homicide led by the Washington County Sheriff's Office began to unfold in the weeks that followed. Witnesses described a crowded event with minimal security and no checks for weapons. In June, authorities made their first arrest in connection with the shooting, taking 22-year-old Ryan Rozier of East Dublin into custody on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and for violating his probation. The following month, a second man, 24-year-old Brian Keith Rozier, also from East Dublin, was apprehended by U.S. Marshals. It was not immediately clear if the two men were related.
Brian Keith Rozier faced more severe charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, using a gun in a crime, and reckless conduct for his alleged role in the deaths of Dunn and Lowery. In the aftermath of the deadly shooting, Washington County commissioners took legal action to shut down the private park where the event was held, citing complaints from nearby residents. A judge issued a temporary order to close the park, with a hearing for a permanent closure scheduled for later that year.
