On October 24, 2023, 46-year-old Shalandra Hooten was fatally shot during a confrontation inside the R&R Quik Stop in Fort Valley, Georgia. A dispute that began with punching between Hooten and another woman, Katrina Smith, escalated into a larger brawl. Smith’s then 16-year-old son, Joseph Tye, intervened and at close range fired a single shot that struck Hooten.

Hooten, known as Penny and remembered as a mother and grandmother with an infectious smile, died at the scene. Tye and his mother left the store after the shooting; Tye was arrested later the same day and the firearm was recovered. Reports note Hooten and Smith had a history of prior altercations.

Does anyone have information about tensions in Fort Valley or memories of Hooten that could shed light on what led to this deadly encounter?