On Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2021, a family gathering in South Fulton, Georgia, turned into a scene of unimaginable grief. Five-year-old Khalis Eberhart, an African American girl described as vibrant and charismatic, was fatally shot in the chest inside an apartment at The Garden of Camp Creek. The tragedy unfolded when her three-year-old cousin discovered a loaded handgun that had been left unsecured under a sofa cushion.
The young boy's father, who was Khalis's uncle, owned the firearm.
In the chaotic moments that followed the sound of a gunshot, Khalis's father, Nathaniel Eberhart, rushed his daughter into the arms of paramedics who had arrived at the scene. She was transported to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries. The loss was a devastating blow to a family already grappling with hardship; Khalis's mother had passed away earlier that same year, leaving her father to care for their three young children, including Khalis's twin.
The South Fulton Police Department investigated the shooting, which they determined to be accidental. In the immediate aftermath, no arrests were made, though it was reported that the Fulton County District Attorney's office would review the case to decide if any charges would be brought against the adults involved. The incident prompted the City of South Fulton to launch gun safety initiatives, including the distribution of free gun locks, to prevent similar tragedies.
The community mourned the loss of the bright and happy little girl. A candlelight vigil was held in her memory, where family and friends gathered to release balloons and share memories of a young life cut tragically short. Her grandmother, Tracy Towns, remembered Khalis as a smart and outgoing child who, along with her twin, shared a special bond and a language of their own.
