Less than a year ago, two young parents-to-be were picking out sleepers and bottles for their baby boy, creating wish lists at stores. But that baby, now 8-months-old, will grow up without his parents after a suspected murder-suicide, according to police.
Investigators believe Darian Sheffield, 19, shot and killed 17-year-old Doumba Sannoh early Sunday in her family’s Clayton County home. Doumba died later that morning, and Sheffield survived several hours before he also died, police said Tuesday.
“Family members, who were upstairs in the residence with the couple’s child (8 months old) went to investigate the sound of gunfire downstairs and found both parties laying on the floor of the home, suffering from gunshot wounds,” Sgt. Ashanti Marbury said in an emailed statement.
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Doumba moved with her mother from West Africa to the Atlanta area in 2005 searching for a better life, according to her family. While at Riverdale High School, Doumba was an honor student. She was not enrolled for the current school year, according to a spokeswoman for Clayton County schools.
“While attending, she met who she thought was the love of her life….” a family member posted online.
Doumba and Sheffield welcomed a baby boy in December. But within months, the new parents had problems so serious, Doumba got a restraining order to protect herself from Sheffield, according to police. On Sunday morning, Sheffield violated the court order.
Sheffield went to Doumba’s family home on Briar Crest Road, near Riverdale, shortly before 9 a.m., according to police. It’s not known what happened between the two before shots were fired.
“The preliminary investigation revealed that the male shot the female before turning the gun on himself,” Marbury said.
No one else was injured in the shooting. Doumba’s family is now caring for the baby.
A Go Fund Me page was created to assist the family.
“This has been a devastating blow not just for my family but mainly for her 8-month-old son,” a family member posted. “We as the family are in need of assistance for her final funeral arrangements which has caught all of us off guard. Her son is in need as well since he will need counseling for the traumatic event of now losing both parents.”
Funeral arrangements had not been announced late Tuesday.
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