On a summer evening in Columbus, Georgia, a dispute that had simmered for a month allegedly reached a fatal conclusion. On July 3, 2020, 44-year-old Kendrick Lamar Young was shot and killed in a park near the city's Waterworks facility on Third Avenue. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Young himself managed to make a harrowing 911 call, identifying his alleged assailant to the dispatcher.
The man he named was Justin Reeves, also known as 'DC.'
Based on this dying declaration and subsequent investigation, Reeves was arrested and charged with the murder of Kendrick Young. Prosecutors built a case suggesting that the shooting was not a random act of violence, but rather retaliation for an altercation that had occurred a month prior. During the trial, which began in December 2025, the prosecution detailed how Young was shot four times—twice in the chest and twice in the back. The 911 call made by Young became a central piece of evidence, with the victim's own voice pointing to Reeves as the man who shot him.
During the trial, further details of the alleged motive emerged. A witness, whose identity was protected, testified about a previous fight between Young and Reeves, in which Young had reportedly bested Reeves. The prosecution put forth that this earlier conflict was the catalyst for the deadly encounter in the park.
Reeves' defense attorney argued that there was insufficient evidence to prove his client was even at the scene of the shooting. Despite the defense's objections, the judge permitted the jury to hear the compelling 911 recording. As of late 2025, Justin Reeves remained in custody, maintaining his innocence as the trial continued and the prosecution prepared to call additional witnesses to the stand.
