In a tragic turn of events that began with a plan to create music, Jireh Morris, a 30-year-old man, lost his life on December 5, 2020. Morris had arranged to meet his cousin, Michael Blair Stewart, Jr., at an apartment complex on Bouldercrest Road in Atlanta to collaborate on a song. Their mutual interest in music had recently reconnected them after a period of estrangement.
The evening took a dark and unforeseen direction when Stewart shot his cousin.
Despite being severely wounded, Morris managed to call 911 for help. During the harrowing 17-minute call, he repeatedly identified his cousin as the person who had shot him. A resident of the apartment complex heard the gunshots and witnessed Morris's car moving slowly through the parking lot before it ultimately struck a tree.
When officers from the DeKalb County Police Department arrived at the scene, they found Morris critically injured but still alive. In his final moments, captured on an officer's body camera, he once again named 'Michael Stewart' as his assailant. Paramedics rushed him to Grady Memorial Hospital, but he succumbed to three gunshot wounds.
Following an investigation into the fatal shooting, authorities identified Michael Blair Stewart, Jr., then 35, as the suspect. In January 2021, the DeKalb Sheriff's Office sought public assistance in locating him. Stewart was subsequently apprehended and faced legal proceedings.
In February 2024, a jury found Michael Blair Stewart, Jr. guilty on charges of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. Though a clear motive for the murder was never established during the trial, the evidence, including Morris's own dying declarations, led to the conviction. A DeKalb County judge sentenced Stewart to life in prison plus an additional five years.
