In the warm evening hours of June 3, 2007, a graduation party at the St. Ives Crossing apartment complex clubhouse in Stockbridge, Georgia, turned into a scene of chaos and violence, resulting in the tragic death of 16-year-old Yahshika Frye, a Black female. What began as a celebration for a Stockbridge High School graduate, attended by over a hundred teenagers from Henry and Clayton counties, as well as Atlanta and Riverdale, descended into a massive brawl. The festive atmosphere soured as the night progressed, with the large crowd becoming unmanageable for the adult chaperones present. The presence of alcohol further fueled the escalating tensions.
The initial conflict, a fistfight of unknown origin, quickly spiraled out of control, leading to stabbings and ultimately, gunfire. In the ensuing panic, as hundreds of teens frantically scattered, Yahshika Frye was shot in the neck and died at the scene. Another 16-year-old girl, Molly "Brook" Cohran, was shot in the chest and later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Eight other teenagers sustained injuries from either gunshots or stabbings during the melee. Police later described the two deceased girls as innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.
The investigation into the double homicide led Henry County Police to two 18-year-old suspects. Labaron Devon Curry was identified as the shooter and was charged with two counts of murder. Dewayne Ivory was also arrested and charged with being a party to the crime of murder, with reports indicating that he had handed the gun to Curry just before the fatal shots were fired. The weapon, a. 357 magnum revolver, was later recovered by police in a ditch with four spent shell casings. Ballistic analysis confirmed that projectiles recovered from Yahshika's body and near where Molly was found were fired from this revolver.
Following a bench trial, Labaron Curry was convicted of two counts of felony murder and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. During the trial, it was revealed that Curry, who had sustained a severe cut on his arm during the initial fight, admitted to firing into the crowd in an attempt to frighten the individuals who had injured him. His blood was found on the handle of the murder weapon and at the location where witnesses reported seeing the shooter standing. Curry later appealed his conviction, arguing the evidence was insufficient, but the judgment was affirmed in January 2013. The final disposition of the charges against Dewayne Ivory is not detailed in available online sources.
