In the late hours of a Sunday evening in Mableton, Georgia, the life of 27-year-old Namarri Shackleford, a Black female from Carrollton, was tragically cut short. On September 22, 2024, at the Mableton Ridge Apartments on Mableton Parkway, Shackleford was shot. First responders arrived at the scene around 9 p.m. and found her with a gunshot wound. She was quickly transported by ambulance to a local hospital, but despite the efforts of medical personnel, she was pronounced deceased.
The investigation into the shooting, led by the Cobb County Police Department's Major Crimes Unit, swiftly identified a suspect. David Wells, a 26-year-old man from Atlanta who was known to Shackleford, was arrested in connection with her death. The incident has been classified as a case of domestic violence. According to the arrest warrant, the shooting occurred in the presence of children, leading to additional charges against the suspect.
Following the shooting, Wells allegedly attempted to conceal the crime. The arrest warrant details that he used linens and cleaning products to remove blood from the scene. He is accused of placing the blood-soaked items into garbage bags, some of which were disposed of in a dumpster at the apartment complex, while others were placed in a vehicle. This led to a charge of tampering with evidence, in addition to felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He also faces three counts of third-degree cruelty to children.
David Wells has a prior criminal record which legally prohibited him from possessing a firearm. In June 2023, he pleaded guilty to terroristic threats after brandishing a pistol at a man and threatening his life. He had also pleaded guilty to carrying a weapon on school grounds in November 2017. Following his arrest for Shackleford's murder, Wells was booked into the Cobb County jail, where he is being held without bond. The community mourned the loss of Namarri Shackleford, with her Celebration of Life services held on October 2, 2024.
