The Atlanta police department has verified that a 16-year-old male, who was fatally shot, was being investigated for various auto-theft-related offenses prior to his passing.
Jakari Brooks was found with gunshot wounds when officers responded to the 1000 block of Cato Street at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
The authorities confirmed Brooks’ death upon arrival at the scene.
The reason for his death remains unclear as APD has not yet disclosed any details, citing the ongoing investigation into the incident.
According to several law enforcement sources, Michael Seiden of Channel 2 reported on Thursday that Brooks had been apprehended over the weekend for trying to sell a stolen electric scooter on Facebook Marketplace.
According to the sources, Brooks was allegedly involved in a crime syndicate that specifically targeted scooter owners before selling the stolen goods online.
Since Brooks was a minor, his criminal record is not eligible for disclosure under the Open Records Act.
During an interview with Audrey Washington from Channel 2, Stardrecous Brooks, the mother of the teen, expressed that she is still trying to comprehend the events that led to her son’s shooting. She also mentioned that her son was in the vicinity to purchase a scooter when the incident occurred.
She stated that the matter revolved around a scooter, but was unaware of the specifics of the situation.
At the moment, there is no information available about the possible motive behind the incident, nor have the police identified any suspects.
It remains uncertain if his demise is related to those occurrences.
