In the late afternoon of Sunday, September 20, 2026, a family barbecue at an apartment complex on North Hairston Road in Stone Mountain, Georgia, turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. Amidst the gathering, gunfire erupted, shattering the peace and claiming the lives of two young brothers, 12-year-old Ja'hki Clark and 11-year-old Jamarion Rolle. Ja'hki, a sixth-grader at Stone Mountain Middle School, and Jamarion, a fifth-grader at Stone Mill Elementary, were both bright students who had been on their respective schools' principal's lists for academic achievement. Those who knew them described the brothers as close, good-hearted kids who looked out for each other and the other children in their community.
The boys' mother recounted that the tragic shooting stemmed from a dispute that had occurred days earlier, on Thursday, September 17, following a football game. On the day of the shooting, individuals connected to the earlier altercation reportedly arrived at the family's apartment complex while they were outside barbecuing. Another confrontation ensued, which quickly escalated to gunfire. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Jamarion Rolle had already succumbed to his injuries. Ja'hki Clark was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition but tragically died from his wounds. The violence also left two other family members wounded: the boys' 17-year-old pregnant cousin was shot three times, and her 37-year-old mother was also injured. Both women were hospitalized for their injuries.
In the days following the shooting, the DeKalb County Police Department announced the arrest of 18-year-old Julian Ellis in connection with the deaths of the two brothers. Ellis has been charged with two counts of felony murder and six counts of aggravated assault. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together the full circumstances that led to the senseless loss of two young lives. The community has been left to mourn the promising futures of two boys, remembered for their love of football and the close bond they shared, cut short by a violent dispute. The case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence on families and communities.
