In the fall of 2023, a senseless act of violence cut short the life of 31-year-old Raesha Heard, a Black mother of two, in Decatur, Georgia. On the evening of Wednesday, October 11, while unloading groceries in the driveway of her parents' home on Kelley Chapel Road, she was ambushed and shot multiple times. The brutal attack was witnessed by her 8-year-old son. At the time of her death, Raesha was also pregnant.
Known to her friends and family as the 'life of the party,' Raesha was remembered for her vibrant personality and a smile that could light up a room. The tragedy was compounded by the fact that her family had suffered the loss of her 15-year-old nephew to gun violence just the year before. In the wake of the shooting, her loved ones were not only left to grapple with their immense grief but also with the knowledge of who was responsible.
The suspect was quickly identified by family and friends as Raesha's ex-boyfriend, Justin Rene Lewis, a rapper also known by the stage name Mad Muzik Cali. According to her family, Raesha had ended her relationship with Lewis due to his abusive behavior. In the days following the murder, Lewis reportedly taunted the grieving family through social media, even 'liking' a post that identified him as the wanted man.
A little over a week after the fatal shooting, on October 19, 2023, Justin Rene Lewis was arrested by DeKalb County police in Forest Park. He was subsequently booked into the DeKalb County Jail and charged with malice murder. The arrest brought a measure of relief to Raesha's family, who could begin the long process of seeking justice for her death.
