In the pre-dawn hours of August 26, 2020, the life of 18-year-old DeMarco Q. Williams was tragically cut short in a burst of gunfire in Clarkston, Georgia. Williams was at the Lakes at Indian Creek Apartments on North Indian Creek Drive when the fatal encounter unfolded around 3:30 a.m. He had been sitting in a pavilion with two other young men when they were ambushed by at least two unidentified assailants who began shooting at them.
When police arrived at the chaotic scene, they found three people had been shot. DeMarco Williams was pronounced dead at the scene from his injuries. A second victim was transported to a local hospital with survivable wounds, while the third individual, known only by the nickname 'Smoke,' reportedly fled and has not been located by authorities. The shooters were seen fleeing the area, with one witness describing seeing a suspect armed with an AK-47 style rifle and another with a handgun. A dark gray Toyota Camry was also seen leaving the complex shortly after the shots rang out, though its connection to the incident remains unconfirmed.
The motive behind the deadly shooting remains unclear. However, DeMarco's father, Joey Williams, has expressed his belief that the attack was a case of mistaken identity, suggesting the perpetrators may have wrongfully accused his son of stealing a firearm. He described the act as a premeditated 'setup.' DeMarco's family remembers him as a 'loving person' with a promising future who enjoyed joking, sports, and being with his friends and family.
To date, the case remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made. In an effort to generate new leads, the DeKalb County Police Department released a sketch in March 2021 of a Black man considered a person of interest. This individual was allegedly seen with Williams and his mother just hours before the shooting occurred. Over a year after his death, DeMarco's family continues to publicly plead for anyone with information to come forward, holding onto hope for justice for their son. His grandmother has vowed not to rest until his killers are held accountable.
