In the early morning hours of January 9, 2025, a tragic series of events unfolded that culminated in the death of 17-year-old Ladunte Nunk Momon, an African American male from Atlanta, Georgia. The incident began in Union City when a homeowner, Sean Paul Cook, asserted that he witnessed someone attempting to break into his Dodge Ram pickup truck. Reacting to the perceived threat, Cook exited his residence on Bentley Drive and discharged a firearm.
The bullet struck Momon, who was seated in the front passenger seat of a friend's vehicle. The entire incident was reportedly captured on Cook's home surveillance camera.
Following the shooting, Momon's companions drove him approximately 15 miles from the scene to the Crystal Heights apartments on Boulder Park Drive in southwest Atlanta, near the Adamsville neighborhood. It was there, around 1:45 a.m., that Atlanta police officers responded to a call about a person down. They discovered Momon deceased in the passenger seat of a white Tesla Model Y, having sustained a gunshot wound. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office later officially identified him. The investigation was initially handled by Atlanta homicide detectives before it was determined the shooting had occurred in Union City.
In the wake of his son's death, Ladunte's mother, Shawndrica Momon, expressed her profound grief. She acknowledged that her son had made mistakes but believed the situation should not have ended in his death, suggesting a call to 911 would have been the appropriate response, leading to a legal resolution rather than a fatal one.
The investigation into the shooting led to the arrest of Sean Paul Cook on January 24, 2025. He was charged with voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Cook was booked into the Fulton County Jail and was released three days later after posting a $125,000 bond. His attorney has stated that he believes his client's actions were justified.
