On the late morning of Sunday, May 3, 2026, 21-year-old Damani Bentley was killed when a gunman opened fire at the J Boys Travel Center on Madison Highway in Valdosta, Georgia. The shooting occurred around 11:45 a.m.; three other people were wounded in the attack. Bentley worked at the travel center and was described by family as a kind, respectful young man who had been planning to start college in a few months.

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office reported that the suspect was a coworker. Authorities identified the alleged shooter as Jabari Nelms of Valdosta and took him into custody at the scene; he was booked into the Lowndes County Jail on multiple charges, including murder. Investigators said a dispute the day before may have been the motive.

Family members remembered Bentley as someone who tried to de-escalate the confrontation and protect coworkers. Does anyone who worked at the travel center or saw events that morning have information that could help clarify what happened?