In the quiet College Park community just outside of Atlanta, 17-year-old Randisha Hamm, a bright and beloved female student, was found shot to death in her home on January 12, 2016. A junior at West Lake High School, she was known for her infectious smile, her love for singing in the church choir, and her talent in mathematics, often tutoring other students.
She had dreams of joining the Air Force after her upcoming graduation, a goal fueled by a desire to help her three brothers attend college.
On that tragic Tuesday, Randisha's mother, Katara Hamm, and her younger brother returned home from his basketball game around 9 p.m. to a scene that would forever haunt them. They discovered Randisha lying in a pool of blood in the hallway, having been shot multiple times. The front door was unlocked, but there were no signs of a forced entry, and nothing appeared to have been stolen from the residence. An autopsy would later confirm she died from multiple gunshot wounds to the face and torso.
The lack of a clear motive has puzzled investigators for years. There was no evidence of a robbery or a sexual assault, leading police and her family to believe that Randisha likely knew her killer. The absence of a forced entry suggests she may have willingly opened the door for her assailant. In the years following her death, Fulton County police have continued to investigate, following up on leads and subpoenaing information, but no suspects have ever been publicly named, and no arrests have been made. The case has grown cold, leaving a void in the hearts of her family and community.
Randisha's family, particularly her mother, has been relentless in their pursuit of justice. They have made numerous public pleas for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. A reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest, but the killer remains at large. The family lives with the constant fear that the person responsible is still free and could potentially harm another family. They continue to honor Randisha's memory, celebrating her birthday and keeping her story alive in the hope that one day, they will have the answers and the closure they so desperately seek.
