In Austell, Georgia, a tragedy unfolded in the parking lot of the Riverside EpiCenter on May 10, 2021, ending the life of 27-year-old Leilani Michelle Billingsley. An employee of the center, the African American mother was fatally shot by her live-in boyfriend, 38-year-old Paul Sullivan III, in what authorities determined to be a murder-suicide. The incident, which was captured on surveillance video and witnessed by others, occurred shortly after 11 a.m.
Prior to the shooting, Sullivan was seen physically assaulting Billingsley in the parking lot. He then shot her before turning the gun on himself. Both were found deceased at the scene by Cobb County police who had responded to reports of shots fired. The investigation concluded that the incident was domestic-related.
Billingsley had been in a four-year relationship with Sullivan, and the couple lived with her mother and young daughter in Austell. While her mother acknowledged that the couple frequently bickered, she was unaware of any physical abuse until after her daughter's death when a friend disclosed the nature of the relationship. Leilani was remembered for her vibrant personality, creativity, and the joy she brought to others. In the wake of the tragedy, the Riverside EpiCenter held a candlelight vigil to honor her memory and raise awareness about domestic violence.
