In a quiet Stone Mountain, Georgia, home, the life of 2-year-old Kamarri 'Cutty' Lewis was tragically cut short on a Monday in September 2014. The young boy, a male, was in the care of his aunt and uncle, Alexia Thomas and Detray Shivers, while his mother was at work. It was supposed to be a day like any other, but it ended in unimaginable heartbreak.
Initially, the circumstances surrounding Kamarri's death were shrouded in mystery. His aunt told authorities she had been asleep and heard nothing. His uncle claimed to have returned home to find the toddler with a fatal gunshot wound. Investigators were left to piece together the events that led to the child's death. Early on, there was speculation that the gunshot may have been self-inflicted.
As the investigation progressed, the focus shifted to the two adults responsible for Kamarri's well-being. Authorities charged both Thomas, then 23, and Shivers, 25, with cruelty to children and reckless conduct. The charges didn't stop there; they were also accused of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. A significant break in the case came when police discovered the handgun believed to be the weapon used in a storm drain, leading to an additional charge of tampering with evidence for Shivers.
Ultimately, the investigation led DeKalb County police to charge Detray Shivers with the murder of his young nephew. According to arrest warrants, authorities alleged that Shivers shot Kamarri in the head with a 9mm handgun and then attempted to conceal the crime by disposing of the weapon. While some family members expressed a belief that the shooting was a tragic accident, the police moved forward with the murder charge against Shivers. In the wake of this devastating loss, family and friends gathered to mourn the death of the little boy, holding a candlelight vigil where they released balloons into the sky in his memory.
