In what was a tragic turn of events, Kamau Garner, a 31-year-old man from Norcross, Georgia, was fatally shot on the evening of his 31st birthday, October 15, 2023. The incident occurred in the 1600 block of Pirkle Road in an unincorporated area of Norcross. Gwinnett County police officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area at approximately 8:10 p.m. Upon their arrival and after canvassing the vicinity, they discovered Garner's body between two buildings.
Investigators believe that an exchange of gunfire took place between at least two individuals shortly before emergency calls were made. While the motive for the shooting is still under investigation, it is unclear if Garner was directly involved in the initial dispute. His family shared that he was a beloved uncle and was preparing to join the Army in the month following his death. Described by his sister as someone who 'always kept a smile on his face and was very silly/funny,' Garner was remembered for his intelligence and magnetic personality.
Following the shooting, the Gwinnett County Police Department launched an investigation which quickly led to the identification and arrest of a suspect. On October 16, 2023, Shaheed Abdullah Al-Ameen, a 28-year-old from Stone Mountain, was taken into custody and booked into the Gwinnett County Jail. He has been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies in connection with Garner's death. Garner's family, originally from Alabama, made arrangements to bring his body home for burial.
