A 17-year-old African American girl, Janae Owens, was tragically killed in what police believe was a road rage incident in Decatur, Georgia, on June 20, 2018. Owens, her twin sister, and their mother had recently moved to the area from Louisiana. They were in their car at a stoplight at the intersection of South Candler Street and Midway Road when a man in another vehicle opened fire on them. The shooting resulted in the death of Janae and injuries to her mother, who was driving. Her twin sister, who was in the back seat, was not physically harmed.
The family had relocated to the Atlanta area to expand their photography business. The senseless act of violence cut short the life of a young woman with a promising future.
Following an investigation, police identified Simmie Rishcard Reed, a 50-year-old man, as the suspect. He was apprehended a few days after the shooting. Reed was subsequently charged with one count of murder, two counts of aggravated assault with intent to murder, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. It was also reported that Reed had a prior criminal record, including a conviction for manslaughter in Alabama in 1988.
