On the morning of January 16, 2017, in Columbus, Georgia, 17-year-old Destiny Nelson was inside her apartment at the Bull Creek Apartment complex when someone knocked on her door. When the door stayed closed, multiple gunshots were fired through it, striking and killing the high school honors student. Nelson was an eleventh-grader at the Early College Academy, dually enrolled at Columbus State University, vice president of her junior class and active in the prom committee, debate team, National Junior Honor Society, National Scholars Honor Society and Students Against Destructive Decisions.

Investigators determined the shooting was likely a mistaken-identity, gang-related retaliatory attack and said Nelson had no known ties to gang activity. The Columbus Police Department and the FBI later offered a combined reward as the case remained unsolved for years while detectives pursued leads. In January 2021 the Columbus Police Department announced charges had been issued against Kiana Latrice James in connection with Nelson’s murder; James was reported to be in custody on an unrelated murder charge at that time.

Did anyone in the Columbus area have information about Destiny’s movements or acquaintances around January 2017 that could help explain how her apartment was targeted?