Jason Stephen Escoffrey, 21, was found in the late hours of July 17, 2022, near the swimming pool of the Highlands of West Village apartment complex in Smyrna, Georgia, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital and died of his injuries. At the time he was living in Opelika, Alabama.

Investigators identified 20-year-old Tavis Lavon Crankfield of Decatur as the primary suspect. After a multiagency manhunt and tips from witnesses and Crime Stoppers, a grand jury indicted Crankfield in September 2022 on malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The indictment says Crankfield unlawfully, with malice aforethought, caused Escoffrey’s death by shooting him with a firearm. Crankfield was captured by the Cobb County Police Department’s Violent Crime Bureau after a brief foot chase on November 16, 2022, and booked into the Cobb County jail without bond.

No motive has been publicly released. If anyone knew Jason or has information about the shooting, please come forward to investigators.