In the early morning hours of October 3, 2019, 18-year-old Jessica Daniels, an African American female, was tragically killed while sleeping in her bed in her Atlanta, Georgia, home. A recent graduate of South Atlanta High School, she had a promising future ahead with plans to attend college to study business and had a job interview scheduled for the very day her life was cut short.
The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 a.m.
when an exchange of gunfire erupted between at least two individuals outside her residence on Riverridge Drive. During the shootout, several stray bullets penetrated the home, one of which struck Jessica in the chest. Her family members, who were also in the house, were awakened by the sound of the gunshots. Her grandfather, Sanders Love, recalled hearing the shots and then the horrifying realization that they were inside the house, followed by his daughter's cry that Jessica had been shot. Jessica's last words to her mother, Sanmarian McClain, were, 'I've been shot.' Authorities who responded to the scene found her with a gunshot wound and stated she was not the intended target of the shooting.
In the wake of the tragedy, Jessica's family and friends were left devastated, remembering her as an extraordinary and outgoing young woman. A candlelight vigil was held in her honor, where her aunt described her as a 'superhero' for potentially shielding a younger relative from harm. Her family has been a vocal advocate for justice, pleading for those responsible to come forward.
The Atlanta Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting, determining that at least 18 shell casings from two different guns were found at the scene. A reward of $10,000, which was later increased to $11,000, was offered for any information that would lead to the arrest and indictment of the individuals involved in her death. Despite the ongoing investigation and the reward offered, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with her death. The case remains open as her family continues to hope for justice.
