Sam Franklin Jr., 56, of Aragon, Georgia, was fatally shot on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at an apartment complex in Rome, Georgia. The case initially had no publicly identified suspect and remained unresolved for months after the winter shooting.

In November 2023, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office announced an arrest in the case: Jaquavious Jaquail Carter, a convicted felon, was taken into custody after a witness identified him as the alleged shooter. Authorities say Carter engaged in an aggravated assault against Franklin while armed with a handgun, resulting in the fatal shooting. He was booked into the Floyd County Jail and denied bond.

Carter faces multiple felony counts tied to Franklin’s death, including murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also charged with discharging a firearm near a public street and possession of a firearm in connection with an unrelated July incident. If anyone has information about Franklin or the February 4 shooting, please come forward.