Marquavious Jolly was a respectful 28-year-old man who worked every day and loved spending his free time with his mother, Tracy. His life was abruptly and tragically cut short in a shooting that has left his family heartbroken and grappling with an unexpected loss. Those who knew him have been left to navigate their deep grief while also facing the financial burden of his burial.
On the night of Friday, October 16, 2026, gunfire erupted in Atlanta’s historic Pittsburgh neighborhood.
Around 10 p.m., Marquavious, a Black male, and a 20-year-old woman were shot in the 1000 block of Ira Street SW. Instead of waiting for an ambulance, they were driven to Grady Memorial Hospital in a private vehicle. At the hospital, medical staff attended to both victims, but Marquavious’s injuries were too severe, and he succumbed to them. The young woman who was shot alongside him was reported to be in stable condition.
The Atlanta Police Department was first alerted to the violence not by a 911 call from the scene, but by the arrival of multiple gunshot victims at the hospital. Initially, there was some confusion as officers were also investigating another shooting that had occurred about an hour earlier and three miles away on Sylvan Road SW. Homicide investigators quickly determined that the two incidents were separate and that Marquavious and the woman had been wounded on Ira Street. Detectives responded to the location to secure the scene, search for evidence, and piece together the circumstances that led to the fatal gunfire.
The investigation progressed quickly. On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, just four days after the shooting, Atlanta police arrested a suspect. Reginald Jowers, 28, was taken into custody and charged in connection with the incident. He faces charges of murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. While an arrest has been made, police have not publicly released a motive for the shooting or detailed the relationship between Jowers and the victims. The investigation was reported to be ongoing as of late October 2026.
In the wake of his death, Marquavious’s family described the shooting as a senseless act of violence. A family member started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of a proper burial, as Marquavious did not have a life insurance policy. The fundraiser described him as a young man dedicated to his job and his mother, underscoring the profound personal loss his death represents. The organizer wrote, "Any support, no matter the amount, would mean so much to the family as they try to lay Marquavious to rest with dignity and love." The community responded with dozens of donations, offering a measure of support to a family enduring an incredibly difficult time.
