In the late summer evening of August 31, 2023, a verbal altercation in the front yard of a residence on Baldridge Drive in Lawrenceville, Georgia, escalated into a burst of gunfire, leaving a scene of chaos and tragedy. When Gwinnett County police officers arrived around 7:30 p.m., they discovered four men had been shot. In the front yard lay the bodies of 22-year-old Chandler Smith-Millions and 23-year-old Jakarri Blackwell, both of Lawrenceville.
Two other men were also found with gunshot wounds and were transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
Chandler Ethan Smith-Millions, a young man known for his charm and immense love for his family, was born in Lawrenceville on October 15, 2001. Remembered as 'Mookie' and 'Sugar Daddy' by his loved ones, he was a talented cook who enjoyed working with his hands and was always ready to help others. He had a passion for auto mechanics and detailing cars, even starting his own business called 'LLJQ' before graduating from Phoenix High School. He shared a close bond with his father, and they enjoyed many activities together, including riding dirt bikes, water tubing, fishing, and basketball.
The initial investigation by Gwinnett County police indicated that a verbal dispute preceded the exchange of gunfire. Detectives canvassed the residential area, just south of Old Norcross Road near I-85, for witnesses and worked to determine a motive for the shooting. At the time, authorities were uncertain whether the shooter was among the four men who were shot or had fled the scene.
As of the latest available online reports, which were published in the immediate aftermath of the incident, the investigation into the deaths of Chandler Smith-Millions and Jakarri Blackwell was ongoing. No suspects had been publicly identified, and no arrests had been announced in connection with the shooting.
