Jalanni Pless, an 18-year-old male from Atlanta, was tragically killed on June 27, 2020. At the time of his death, he was selling bottled water in Midtown Atlanta to earn extra money. He was a recent high school graduate who also held a full-time job at a warehouse and was saving up for a down payment on a car. Pless had aspirations of attending technical college to pursue a career in the automotive field.
The incident that led to his death began as a dispute with another young man,
16-year-old Terrell Anderson, over a $10 sale to a motorist. The argument escalated, and though Pless offered to split the money, the situation intensified. Anderson left the scene only to return a short time later with a firearm. He then chased Pless and shot him multiple times. The shooting occurred near a loading dock by a midtown apartment complex on 8th Street. Pless was able to run into a nearby parking garage after being shot, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Following the shooting, Terrell Anderson fled the scene, taking a train from the Midtown MARTA Station. He later turned himself in to the authorities. Anderson was initially charged with murder. In June 2024, Anderson, then 19, accepted a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to lesser charges, including three counts of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. A judge sentenced Anderson to 35 years in prison, with 30 years to be served. The victim's family reportedly did not want to go through a trial, which was a consideration in the plea agreement.
