CLAYTON COUNTY, GEORGIA — A 16-year-old girl identified as Taylor Hamilton was shot and killed on Thanksgiving while waiting for an Uber outside a home in Clayton County. Her death came only weeks after her boyfriend, 16-year-old Dequavious Roystalon, was fatally shot in September in an unrelated incident. According to family members, Taylor had been struggling emotionally in the weeks leading up to the tragedy.
Teen Was Leaving a Gathering When the Confrontation Occurred
Taylor’s mother, Nandi Hamilton, told reporters that her daughter had agreed to attend a gathering with a friend at a home on Wentworth Drive, despite only knowing one person there. She believes Taylor had been facing ongoing harassment from other teens regarding her boyfriend’s death, which added tension that night.
According to her family, Taylor decided to leave the gathering and ordered an Uber. As she waited on the front porch, a group exited the home, leading to a confrontation. During that encounter, Taylor was shot. A homeowner’s doorbell camera reportedly captured the incident, which her mother described as “senseless” and “heartbreaking.”
Family Says Harassment and Grief May Have Played a Role
Relatives say Taylor had recently celebrated her 16th birthday and was known as someone younger students admired. She was a sophomore at Booker T. Washington High School, participated in JROTC, and hoped to become a veterinarian. Her mother believes her daughter’s emotional vulnerability following her boyfriend’s death made her a target for harassment prior to the shooting.
The September death of Taylor’s boyfriend, Dequavious Roystalon, added to the trauma she was carrying. Roystalon was shot by his stepfather, who reportedly mistook him for an intruder—a separate case that remains under investigation.
Fifteen-Year-Old Charged as an Adult in Taylor’s Death
Clayton County authorities have charged 15-year-old Adonis Alkarim with Taylor Hamilton’s murder. According to police, he is being charged as an adult. Taylor’s family maintains that additional individuals present that night should also face consequences…