BDAY PARTY TRAGEDY
Who was Young Thug’s baby mama LaKevia Jackson and how did she die?
Two suspects were initially arrested in connection with the murder before a judge ruled they were acting in self-defense
LAKEVIA Jackson, the mother of Young Thug's child, was tragically killed in a bowling alley parking lot.
She was allegedly involved in an argument over a bowling ball before the fatal shooting — here we take a look at who LaKevia was and what happened.
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Who was LaKevia Jackson?
LaKevia Jackson was a 31-year-old mother from Atlanta, Georgia, who gained public attention due to her connection to rapper Young Thug.
LaKevia was the mother of a 14-year-old son, whom she shared with the Atlanta-based rapper.
Friends and family described LaKevia as kind-hearted and loving.
Tragic shooting
LaKevia Jackson was shot dead on March 17, 2022, in the parking lot of Metro Fun Center on Metropolitan Parkway in Atlanta.
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The incident reportedly began with an argument over a bowling ball inside the facility.
broke the news of the tragedy on March 18, 2022.
One of their reporters, Tori Cooper, said that she spoke to the girl's mother who confirmed that she had tragically passed away.
“I just spoke to LaKevia Jackson’s mom,” she shared.
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"She says LaKevia went to her best friend's birthday @ bowling alley, a fight over the bowling ball happened then the suspect waited 20 mins in the parking lot for LaKevia before he shot her while she was leaving."
LaKevia's mother Sherina Jackson told CBS: "I didn’t know that was going to be the last time I talked to my baby."
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"I could hear her over the phone crying and screaming then her best friend said she’s not breathing! I lost my baby all over a bowling ball."
Atlanta Police Department Homicide Commander Lt. Ralph Woolfolk told the press: "This is truly an atrocity."
"A young lady has lost her life over a bowling ball," he said.
"We talk about conflict-resolution time and time again and this is an escalated dispute so we will work this case through the night and we will find the person responsible."
I didn’t know that was going to be the last time I talked to my baby
Sherina Jackson
"We know who you are so go ahead and turn yourself in."
Law enforcement sources told that when they arrived at the scene they found LaKevia dead, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Suspects
Joshua Fleetwood and Imani Spears were initially arrested and charged with Jackson's murder.
However, the charges against Fleetwood and Spears were dismissed in November 2023 by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kimberly E. Esmond Adams.
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The dismissal came after Spears and Fleetwood filed a motion claiming immunity, stating they were "legally justified" in the shooting.
Judge Adams ruled in their favor based on evidence showing that Jackson was actually the first to fire a weapon.
Key points from the judge's ruling:
- Jackson reportedly fired into the air first and then at the defendants as they ran towards their vehicle.
- Fleetwood never showed his gun or physically threatened Jackson before she shot at him.
- Spears only fired after Jackson had fired multiple rounds.
- The judge rejected prosecutors' arguments that Fleetwood provoked the shooting, stating that he had "de-escalated the initial verbal altercation" inside the bowling alley.
The judge ruled that Spears and Fleetwood "established by a preponderance of the evidence that each was acting in self-defense and the defense of others and is, therefore, entitled to immunity from prosecution".
Young Thug prison release
Young Thug has been released from following his sentencing on October 31, 2024.
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Real name is Jeffery Williams, has been in custody since May 2022, when he was arrested as part of a sweeping Rico case against his alleged leadership of the YSL gang.
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (Rico) focuses on racketeering and allows criminals to be hit with extended penalties and a civil cause of action for their roles in criminal organizations.
After accepting a plea deal, Young Thug received a sentence of 40 years from Judge Paige Whitaker.
The structure meant he was released immediately.
He was given five years in prison, but this was commuted to time already served and is followed by 15 years of probation.
An additional 20 years are 'backloaded' — this means they will only be served if he violates his probation terms.
Young Thug was freed after spending approximately to and a half years in jail awaiting trial.
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His release is contingent on his compliance with probation conditions for the next 15 years.
If he successfully completes his probation, the remaining 20 years of his sentence will be commuted to time served.
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