On a tragic spring afternoon, the life of Alasia Franklin, a 21-year-old female student at Kennesaw State University, was cut short. On May 18, 2024, Franklin was fatally shot following a dispute in front of the Austin Residence Complex on the university's campus. The incident prompted a campus-wide alert for an armed intruder, though the immediate threat was neutralized when the suspect fled the scene.
The man responsible for Franklin's death was her ex-boyfriend, 22-year-old Samuel El
Harris. Harris, who was not a student at the university, had a history with Franklin that traced back to middle school in their shared hometown of Cairo, Georgia. Their romantic relationship had ended in a difficult breakup months before the fatal encounter. In the moments after the shooting, Harris fled the scene, taking Franklin's car and phone with him. He was apprehended by law enforcement approximately 10 miles away from the campus. Investigators found a Glock handgun in his possession which was later confirmed to be the weapon used in the shooting.
In the wake of the tragedy, details emerged about Franklin's vibrant life. She was a dedicated student who had made the Dean's list and was pursuing a degree in nursing with the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner. Beyond her academic pursuits, she was an active and engaged member of the campus community, involved in the Student Government Association and the National Council of Negro Women. She was also the founder of the university's Integrated Health Science Club.
The legal process that followed brought some measure of closure. Samuel El Harris was indicted on multiple charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence. He ultimately pleaded guilty to malice murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm in a school zone, and tampering with evidence. On February 19, 2026, a Cobb County Superior Court judge sentenced Harris to life in prison for the murder of Alasia Franklin.
