In a heartbreaking turn of events, 25-year-old Shyla Cummings, an African American mother, was killed on May 6, 2026, in the parking lot of a Publix grocery store on Panola Road in Stonecrest, Georgia. The tragedy unfolded while her infant daughter, just seven months old, was inside a car nearby. Cummings was looking forward to a bright future, with plans to begin nursing school in August, a dream she was pursuing to build a stable life for herself and her child.
Described by her family as a devoted and loving mother, her life was cut short in what authorities have described as an act of domestic violence.
Investigators quickly identified Isiah Tarver as the suspect in the shooting. Tarver had been in a long-term, on-and-off relationship with Cummings. Authorities found Tarver at the scene with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. After receiving medical treatment, he was arrested and taken into custody. The DeKalb County Police Department has charged Tarver with malice murder. He is currently being held in the DeKalb County Jail as the investigation into the shooting continues.
The devastating loss has left Shyla Cummings's family and friends to grapple with the sudden and violent end to a life full of promise. Her parents, Roston and Shameeka Cummings, remember their daughter as a "beautiful soul" who was at the peak of her life. They recalled how much she embraced motherhood and how her daughter, Sariyah, had inspired her to become more independent and responsible. As there have been no legal proceedings yet, there has been no conviction or sentencing in this case. The family is now focused on raising Sariyah, who will grow up with the memory of a mother who was deeply loved and whose future was tragically stolen. The case stands as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence.
