In the late hours of a November day in 2018, the life of 18-year-old Rene Betancourt was tragically cut short in Scottdale, Georgia. A student at Druid Hill High School, he was described as a 'good guy.' On November 28th, Betancourt had spent the day with a close friend and had fallen asleep in the passenger seat of his friend's car as they returned to the Oak Forest Apartments.
His friend quickly went into his apartment, and upon returning, saw a man named Jaquez Emmanuel Cooper
rummaging through his car. After being confronted, Cooper fled. Shortly after they drove away, Betancourt woke up and realized his cellphone was missing. They returned to the apartment complex to retrieve the phone, where they found Cooper with two other individuals. An altercation ensued, and Betancourt was cornered against a wall and shot in the face. He was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he ultimately died from his injuries.
Three weeks after the shooting, on December 21, 2018, authorities arrested a 16-year-old suspect in connection with Betancourt's death at an apartment complex near Lithonia. The suspect was later identified as Jaquez Emmanuel Cooper. Initially, witnesses were hesitant to identify the shooter due to Cooper's reputation for violence.
In April 2022, a jury found the now 20-year-old Jaquez Emmanuel Cooper guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison plus five years to be served consecutively. The case marked the first trial and conviction for the DeKalb County District Attorney's newly formed Firearm Violence Prevention Unit.
