On a tragic Easter Sunday in Riverdale, Georgia, a day that should have been filled with celebration turned into one of profound loss for the family of Reginald Manuel. The 19-year-old African American male was at a family gathering on Valley Hill Road on April 17, 2022, when a heated argument shattered the festive atmosphere. The dispute, reportedly over the custody of his child, was between Reginald and the mother of his girlfriend.
As the argument escalated, Reginald decided to leave
the home. It was in the driveway that the confrontation took a fatal turn. Jaswan Burroughs, the 36-year-old boyfriend of the girlfriend's mother, produced a firearm and shot Reginald. Despite being gravely wounded, Reginald was able to identify his assailant to the responding Clayton County police officers before he was rushed to a local hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The information provided by Reginald in his final moments, corroborated by witness statements, led to the swift arrest of Jaswan Burroughs. He was taken into custody and faced a litany of serious charges, including malice murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The community was left to grapple with the senseless violence that cut short a young father's life during what should have been a joyous occasion.
