Shan’eku McCurty, a 25-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on October 23, 2015, in a senseless act of violence that cut her promising life short. On that Friday morning, at approximately 1:00 a.m., McCurty was on her way home from her job as a barber when she made a stop at a Chevron gas station on Redan Road in Stone Mountain, Georgia, just a few miles from her residence.
As she returned to her vehicle after making a purchase, she was accosted by three teenagers in what authorities described as an attempted carjacking and robbery. When McCurty resisted their attempts to take her car, the situation escalated with tragic consequences. One of the assailants shot her multiple times. The suspects then fled the scene without her vehicle. McCurty was rushed to a nearby hospital, but she ultimately succumbed to her injuries. The brazen and violent nature of the crime sent shockwaves through the local community.
The investigation into Shan'eku McCurty's murder quickly led authorities to three teenage suspects: 16-year-old Cameron Williams, and two brothers, 16-year-old Jermaine Grant and 15-year-old Demonte Grant. In the days following the shooting, the Grant brothers turned themselves in to the police, and shortly thereafter, Williams also surrendered to authorities. Investigators identified Cameron Williams as the individual who fired the fatal shots. Despite their ages, the DeKalb County District Attorney's office made the decision to charge all three teenagers as adults.
A grand jury indicted Williams, Jermaine Grant, and Demonte Grant on charges of malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault. In December 2015, Cameron Williams entered a plea of not guilty to the charges brought against him. The Grant brothers' arraignment was scheduled for later that same month. Though Williams was identified as the shooter, under Georgia law, the Grant brothers were considered parties to the crime and faced the same serious charges. The community mourned the loss of a young woman who was remembered for her vibrant spirit and kindness.
