An 18-year-old recent high school graduate, Ka’Mani Kirkland, was tragically killed in what was described as an accidental shooting in Austell, Georgia, on the evening of May 27, 2020. Kirkland, a bright and ambitious young woman, had recently graduated with honors from South Cobb High School and was preparing to start nursing school in the fall at Chamberlain University.
On the day of the incident, Kirkland had picked up a former classmate, 17-year-old Christopher Morris. While she was driving near the East West Connector on Mesa Valley Way, with her half-sister also in the vehicle, Morris, who was in the backseat, is believed to have been handling a gun when it discharged, striking Kirkland. The young woman was rushed to Wellstar Cobb Hospital, the same hospital where she was born, but she succumbed to her injuries.
The investigation that followed led to the arrest of Christopher Morris. He was charged with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a gun by a person under 18. Believing the shooting to be a senseless accident, Kirkland's mother expressed her profound grief, stating her belief that Morris had acquired a weapon he was not knowledgeable about, leading to the unintentional death of her daughter. Morris was later indicted by a Cobb County grand jury on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct. He was subsequently released from jail after posting a $25,000 bond.
Friends and family remember Ka’Mani Kirkland as a vibrant and outgoing individual with a big heart, who was always smiling and had a plan for her life. The youngest of eight siblings and half-siblings, she was known for her kind and generous nature. Her untimely death left her family and community mourning the loss of a promising young life cut short by a tragic incident.
