Crime & Public Safety

Police release photos of suspects in Midtown security guard’s shooting

Atlanta police investigated a fatal shooting in the 700 block of Spring Street on Aug. 28.
Atlanta police investigated a fatal shooting in the 700 block of Spring Street on Aug. 28.
By Chelsea Prince and John Spink
Updated Sept 5, 2023

Investigators released photos Tuesday evening of multiple suspects they believe were involved in the fatal shooting of a security guard in Midtown last week.

Atlanta police said the 33-year-old guard, identified as Sha’Darrian Jacobs by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office, took a stray bullet to the neck Aug. 28 when someone else tried to stop a group of suspected thieves who were breaking into cars on Spring Street. He was found dead in the Lanier Parking garage on the corner of Spring and 3rd streets, a block north of the famed Fox Theatre.

Investigators placed multiple yellow evidence tags in the street to mark spent shall casings.
Investigators placed multiple yellow evidence tags in the street to mark spent shall casings.

“Currently, we believe some suspects were attempting to break into some vehicles in a nearby parking deck and began shooting rounds as they were encountered by some witnesses, or a person who was trying to stop them,” Atlanta police Lt. Germain Dearlove said after an initial investigation.

A police spokesperson later confirmed that Jacobs was an innocent bystander and was not working at the deck where the break-ins occurred.

Investigators were canvassing the area for witnesses and collecting surveillance footage after the shooting.
Investigators were canvassing the area for witnesses and collecting surveillance footage after the shooting.

Dearlove said it appeared the shots were fired from a vehicle in the street, where investigators placed multiple yellow evidence tags to mark spent shell casings. They also found evidence of at least two car break-ins at a nearby parking deck.

Dearlove said investigators were canvassing the area for witnesses and collecting surveillance footage. About a week later, photos of the suspects were released to the public.

Atlanta police released photos of multiple suspects linked to the fatal shooting of Sha'Darrian Jacobs on Aug. 28.
Atlanta police released photos of multiple suspects linked to the fatal shooting of Sha'Darrian Jacobs on Aug. 28.

Police did not say how they had linked the suspects to the incident, but one is pictured getting out of a silver sedan at a gas station. The other photos appear to have been taken from surveillance cameras inside a convenience store.

Investigators are asking for help identifying and locating the suspects.

Anyone with information is asked to submit a tip anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line by calling 404-577-TIPS (8477), visiting www.StopCrimeAtl.org or texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). Tipsters do not have to give their name or any identifying information to be eligible for the reward of up to $2,000.

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.

About the Authors

Chelsea Prince is reporter and coach on the breaking news team.

John Spink is a multi-platform photojournalist with the breaking news team. He provides compelling photos, video and audio from breaking news events for the AJC and media partners WSB Channel 2 Action News & WSB Radio

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