In the early morning hours of April 8, 2026, the life of 36-year-old Qualeisha Barnes, a woman of Black ethnicity, was tragically cut short in Atlanta, Georgia. Barnes, who was 14 weeks pregnant, was discovered inside her vehicle on Springside Place, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency services were called to the scene around 1:23 a.m. and pronounced her deceased.
The preliminary investigation by the Atlanta Police Department suggests the shots were fired into the vehicle from the outside before the perpetrator or perpetrators fled the scene.
Originally from Detroit, Barnes had been a resident of the Atlanta area for nearly a decade. She was a multifaceted and ambitious individual, known in the music world by her stage name, "Siditty". Alongside her artistic pursuits, she was dedicated to her education and was only two semesters away from earning her bachelor's degree in nursing from South College in Chamblee, having recently made the dean's list. Her family described her as a joyful and humorous person who was excited about becoming a mother. She had been experiencing severe morning sickness and was scheduled to fly to Detroit to be cared for by her sister on the morning she was killed.
The Atlanta Police Department's Homicide Unit is actively investigating her death as a double homicide, considering the loss of both Barnes and her unborn child. As of now, authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the shooting. Investigators have been canvassing the neighborhood for surveillance footage and interviewing potential witnesses to piece together the events leading up to her death. Her family, devastated by the loss, has pleaded for anyone with information to come forward to help bring justice for Qualeisha and her unborn baby. Her mother expressed her belief that more than one person may have been involved in her daughter's death.
