In the quiet community of Stone Mountain, Georgia, a promising young life was abruptly cut short in a senseless act of violence. Siah Gray, a 20-year-old African American male, was tragically killed on December 22, 2020. His life, full of potential and creativity, was extinguished in the very place he should have felt safest – his own home on Wake Forest Road. Siah was a gifted and beloved son, brother, and friend, known for his passions for making music, drawing, cooking, and playing sports. He was a student at Grambling State University, where he was majoring in Cybersecurity, a field that held a bright future.
The events that led to Siah's untimely death unfolded during what appeared to be a robbery. According to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, Gray was targeted and fatally shot. The investigation into the homicide quickly pointed to two individuals. The subsequent arrests brought some measure of hope for justice to a grieving family and community. The suspects were identified as 20-year-old Roy Jackson and 17-year-old Chevaz Mekhi Barnes.
According to arrest warrants, the narrative of that tragic day alleges that Roy Jackson directed Chevaz Barnes to shoot Siah Gray. The motive appeared to be robbery, as money and drugs were reportedly taken from Gray's pockets after he was shot. The investigation led to the apprehension of both suspects. Roy Jackson was taken into custody and faced charges of armed robbery and felony murder. Chevaz Mekhi Barnes was also charged in connection with Siah's death. At the time of this incident, Barnes was already facing charges for a separate armed robbery and murder that occurred in October 2020. Both Jackson and Barnes were held at the DeKalb County Jail without bond as they awaited legal proceedings. The violent nature of the crime and the youth of both the victim and the accused sent shockwaves through the Stone Mountain community.
