In the summer of 2023, the life of 29-year-old David Lee Stephens III was tragically cut short in Sylvester, Georgia. The young man, known for his love of family and basketball, was fatally shot in an event that would lead to a swift arrest. While his obituary states he passed away on Sunday, June 11, 2023, another source dedicated to tracking gun violence victims lists the date of the incident as Saturday, June 10, 2023.
Stephens, born on September 1, 1993, was a resident of Sylvester and an employee at American Textile in Tifton. Remembered for his friendly and quiet nature, his death left his family and community in mourning.
In the days following the shooting, the Sylvester Police Department identified a suspect, Quadarrious Rooks. On June 12, 2023, authorities announced they were searching for the 22-year-old in connection with Stephens' death. The search came to an end on June 14, 2023, when Rooks turned himself in to the Sylvester Police.
Upon his surrender, Quadarrious Rooks was charged with the murder of David Stephens. He was subsequently booked into the Worth County Jail. The case was then handed over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for further investigation. Details regarding the motive or the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting have not been widely publicized as the case proceeds through the legal system.
