In what was supposed to be a straightforward online transaction, Mezaio Pickett, a 26-year-old male, was fatally shot on May 8, 2017, in the parking lot of a Carrabba's restaurant on Cumberland Boulevard in Cobb County, an area in the Atlanta metropolitan region. Pickett had arranged to purchase shoes through an online marketplace and had met the sellers to complete the deal.
The transaction turned deadly when, after Pickett had paid for and received the shoes, the sellers allegedly attempted to rob him, leading to the shooting.
According to Pickett's girlfriend, he had sensed the danger and was attempting to de-escalate the situation by telling the assailants they could take whatever they wanted. He reportedly pleaded for his life before being shot. Witnesses at the scene initially believed a car accident had occurred but soon discovered Pickett with a gunshot wound. He died from his injuries shortly after the incident. The ordeal was described as a senseless murder by his girlfriend, who also mentioned that Pickett was a father of five and was striving to improve his life for his children.
The investigation into the homicide led authorities to two suspects, 22-year-old Vincent Brooks and 22-year-old Damien Scott. Police were able to track them down by their online activities related to the planned sale. Two days after the shooting, both Brooks and Scott were taken into custody. An arrest warrant stated that Scott shot at Pickett multiple times, striking him once in the back. Brooks was accused of driving the getaway car. Both men were subsequently charged with murder and aggravated assault for their roles in the fatal shooting.
