On the night of October 11, 2020, 23-year-old Devere Blake was shot once in the neck and killed at an apartment complex near Kennesaw State University after a dispute between two groups of teenagers and young adults that began earlier at a gas station. Police say the groups, armed with handguns and a shotgun, agreed to meet at the complex to continue the fight; the fatal shot was fired during that arranged confrontation. Law enforcement described the incident as gang-related, but Blake’s family says he was at the scene trying to act as a peacemaker and protect younger relatives, and that he was not a gang member. Reports say Blake himself was armed with a shotgun at the meeting.

A Cobb County Police investigation led to the arrest of fourteen people aged 16 to 21 on charges including felony murder and aggravated assault. Police identified the suspected shooter as 16-year-old Kanye Leonard Sorrells; another 16-year-old, Jovan Sherden, was accused of handing the weapon to him. A 17-year-old, Treazure Lanae Walker, was charged with encouraging the shooting and attempting to hide the gun, and an 18-year-old, Juquavious Antwan Ryan, was identified as the getaway driver. Among those arrested were Blake’s 17-year-old brother, Amere Blake, and 16-year-old cousin, Jonathan Bateman.

Are there readers who knew Devere Blake or who have information about what happened that night?