In the late summer evening of August 31, 2023, a verbal dispute in the front yard of a home on Baldridge Drive in Lawrenceville, Georgia, escalated into a burst of gunfire. When the sounds of the altercation faded, two young men were left dead and two others were wounded. One of the deceased was 22-year-old Jakarri Timiere Blackwell. The other man killed was identified as 22-year-old Chandler Smith-Millions.
Emergency services were called to the scene just after 7:00 p.m.
Upon arrival, Gwinnett County police officers discovered the tragic outcome of the shooting. The two other men who were shot were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. Investigators began canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses, trying to piece together the events that led to the deadly exchange of gunfire. In the immediate aftermath, authorities had not publicly identified any suspects and continued to investigate the motive behind the shooting.
Jakarri, known to his loved ones as 'Jay,' was remembered as a man who cherished his family. Born on March 31, 2001, he was a fan of the Georgia Bulldogs and enjoyed fishing, playing video games, and grilling for family functions. His obituary described him as a jokester at heart who brought laughter to those around him. He had met his girlfriend, Jasmine Crawford, in middle school, and they had spent eight years together. The investigation into the deaths of Jakarri Blackwell and Chandler Smith-Millions was ongoing as of early September 2023, with police seeking information from the public.
