Keaira Palmer should've turned 16 on Thursday. Instead, the FBI is searching for a man accused in her death.
Tahja T. "Mayhem" Williams, who already had the letters “RIP” tattooed on his Adam’s apple, is one of seven purported gang members charged in the Aug. 3 shootout that left the Stone Mountain High student dead. The girl was walking out of a convenience store on Glenwood Road near Decatur when a bullet clipped her throat, police have said.
Charged with murder, Williams, 24, is believed to have fled to Florida, the FBI said in a statement.
The other six suspects, including two juveniles, are charged with various levels of involvement and arrived at the DeKalb jail earlier this month.
The gun battle happened after midnight as Palmer and three others exited S and N Lotto and another group started firing on them. "The victims also returned fire," the FBI's statement said.
According to the FBI, the shooting stemmed from a previous incident in which Williams was robbed by members of a rival gang set. Williams allegedly holds the rank of Double OG in the Six Deuce Brim Bloods. His anger was reportedly made worse when the rivals bragged about what they'd done.
Exact details of how the shooting played out are scarce, but Palmer, who reportedly lived at the apartment complex next door, and three others were shot. Several cars were also shot up.
Palmer was pronounced dead at the hospital. The others survived.
It isn't clear how, if at all, Palmer was connected to the gangs. Police have said she, like everyone involved in the case, had "gang ties." She's also been described as an innocent bystander, according to Channel 2 Action News.
Cedric Alexander, deputy chief operating officer of public safety for DeKalb, said earlier this month the shooters had "no regard for the safety and well-being of others."
"This will not be tolerated in our community," he added.
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