On a tragic Christmas Eve morning in 2012, the life of 22-year-old JaLisa Michelle Scott was cut short in Milledgeville, Georgia. An African American woman and a beloved member of her community, Scott was the victim of a fatal shooting. The incident unfolded as an apparent murder-suicide perpetrated by her ex-boyfriend, Travis Anderson.
The morning of the shooting, JaLisa had a heated argument with Anderson and called her family for help.
By the time they arrived at her apartment, they heard gunshots. Police say Anderson shot and killed Scott before turning the gun on himself. Scott's mother revealed that her daughter had broken up with Anderson and moved out a month prior to the shooting.
Despite the breakup, JaLisa wanted Anderson to maintain a relationship with their six-month-old son, who was tragically in the apartment at the time of the murder-suicide. The infant was unharmed and is considered a 'Christmas miracle' by his grandmother. In the wake of the tragedy, JaLisa's mother expressed her forgiveness for her daughter's killer, stating that it would not bring either of them back. She hoped that by sharing JaLisa's story, it might encourage others in violent relationships to seek help.
