An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged after a shooting in DeKalb County left two young brothers dead and two women injured Sunday night.
Julian Ellis was taken into custody Tuesday in connection with the shooting on North Hairston Road. Police say he is facing two counts of felony murder and six counts of aggravated assault.
The victims were identified as 11-year-old Jamarion Rolle and his 12-year-old brother, Jakhi Clark. Both boys were shot during the incident. Jamarion was pronounced dead at the scene, while Jakhi was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died.
Two women, ages 19 and 37, were also wounded. Both survived and received medical treatment.
The shooting happened after an earlier disagreement that investigators believe may have been connected to a fight involving a football game. According to the boys’ family, relatives were gathered for a barbecue when another confrontation broke out.
The situation escalated into gunfire, leaving several family members injured.
Investigators have not publicly established a full motive, and the circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation. Authorities have said they are continuing to work to determine exactly what happened before the gunfire.
Police also recovered evidence at the scene, including shell casings and bullet damage to a fence and an upstairs window, according to investigators.
Ellis remains in custody at the DeKalb County Jail. His first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24, at 1 p.m.
The killings have also prompted renewed attention from DeKalb County officials on youth violence and conflict prevention. County leaders announced a program called Education to Empowerment, a 12-week school-based initiative for students in grades six through 12. The program is designed to focus on conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, behavior regulation and leadership.
Officials said the program had been in development for about a year and was not created specifically in response to Sunday’s shooting. Its announcement comes as the community continues to mourn the two brothers.
The homicide investigation remains active. Anyone with information about the shooting is being asked to contact the DeKalb County Police Department’s Homicide Assault Unit at 770-724-7850.
