On a late Monday evening in Rome, Georgia, a dispute between two coworkers in the parking lot of the Kellogg's bakery plant escalated with fatal consequences. The date was June 12, 2023, when 26-year-old Keion Tyjuan Harper, a male employee, was shot and killed. The incident, which occurred shortly before 10:45 p.m. at the facility on Old Lindale Road, was not related to their work at the plant.
The man responsible for the shooting, 29-year-old Dekembe Devion Smith, also an employee at the Kellogg's plant, called 911 himself to report the shooting. When police arrived, they found Harper with gunshot wounds. Despite efforts to render aid before emergency medical personnel arrived, Harper succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Investigators learned that a history of arguments had led to a falling out between the two men, who had once been friends. On the night of the shooting, video evidence showed Harper following Smith outside the plant and engaging in a verbal confrontation. Harper was seen removing his hat and shirt, and approaching Smith's car multiple times as the argument continued. The situation culminated when Harper leaned into Smith's car and slapped him. In response, Smith grabbed a pistol and fired, striking Harper twice.
Following the investigation, Dekembe Devion Smith was arrested and initially charged with homicide, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. In April 2024, Smith pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. While prosecutors acknowledged that Harper was the primary aggressor, they argued that Smith also participated in the verbal altercation. The judge, noting that a slap was not sufficient provocation for the use of deadly force, sentenced Smith to 25 years, with 15 years to be served in prison followed by probation. The two families were left to mourn the tragic outcome of a friendship that ended in violence.
