In the summer of 1999, a domestic dispute in Atlanta, Georgia, escalated into a horrific scene of violence, leaving multiple generations of a family dead. Essie Jo Hugley, a 37-year-old female, was among the six victims of a shooting rampage that unfolded on July 12. The tragedy took place in a home in the Adamsville neighborhood of southwest Atlanta, a place that would be forever marked by the events of that day.
The perpetrator was identified as Cyrano Marks, the 39-year-old boyfriend
of Essie's sister, Deleane Briskey, 33. Reports from law enforcement indicated that Marks became enraged after Briskey informed him of her desire to end their relationship. This rejection apparently triggered a brutal response. On that Monday morning, Marks armed himself with a handgun and systematically took the lives of those inside the home. His victims included Essie Jo Hugley, his girlfriend Deleane Briskey, and her four children: Torsha Briskey, 16, Craig DeCarlo Briskey, 15, David Antonio Lucas, Jr., 13, and Antoine DeAndre Lucas, 9.
The lone survivor of the massacre was Deleane's 11-year-old son, who recounted the terrifying ordeal to police from his hospital bed. He described how Marks, in a fit of rage, herded the family into the master bedroom. When they attempted to flee, he began his deadly assault. The young boy was reportedly dragged from room to room as Marks shot and killed his family members. The boy managed to break free and hide in a closet, but Marks found him. After a failed attempt to shoot him when the gun jammed, Marks fired again, striking the boy in the elbow. The child had the presence of mind to play dead, a decision that likely saved his life.
After murdering six members of the family, Cyrano Marks turned the gun on himself, ending his own life. The 11-year-old survivor remained hidden for eight hours before he finally felt it was safe to seek help, knocking on a neighbor's door and revealing the horror that had transpired within his home. The motive, as understood by investigators, was a tragic and extreme reaction to the end of a romantic relationship. There were no arrests to be made, as the sole suspect had taken his own life at the scene.
