The Gist: Jamaar Bracey was convicted and sentenced to life without parole for the 2021 shooting of Rodney Evans in Decatur.
The Details: On Valentine’s Day 2021, Rodney Evans was found with a fatal gunshot wound in an overturned car. Jamaar Bracey, 39, faced charges including Malice Murder and Aggravated Assault. The incident stemmed from a dispute involving Evans and a woman who had a protective order against him. Bracey, who had a prior life sentence for another murder, was arrested, tried, and convicted, receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole plus 15 years, to run consecutively with his previous sentence.
By The Numbers:
- Life without parole plus 15 additional years for Bracey
- 2 counts of Felony Murder, among other charges
- 4 bullet casings found at the crime scene
👮♂️ Gun Crimes in Our Communities: Here are statistics from The Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit meticulously tracking gun incidents.
2023 Statistics:
- Total gun-related incidents: 39,135
- Gun-related deaths (excluding suicides): 18,874
- Gun-related injuries: 36,357
- Mass shootings: 656
2022 Statistics:
- Total gun-related incidents: 42,064
- Gun-related deaths (excluding suicides): 20,200
- Gun-related injuries: 38,500
- Mass shootings: 647
While firearm deaths and injuries saw a slight decline compared to previous years, mass shootings continued to rise, with 2023 surpassing 650 incidents. This underscores the continued severity of gun violence in the U.S.
To Be Clear: These aren’t just digits on a page. Each statistic represents a life affected, a community shaken.
Thom Chandler
Thom Chandler is the editor of The Georgia Sun and has been writing, editing and managing websites and blogs since 1995. He is a lifelong Georgian and one of those increasingly rare Atlanta natives.
