Chyell Paulk, a 15-year-old cheerleader, was killed in a shooting incident in the early hours of Sunday, April 28, 2024, in the small town of Fitzgerald, Georgia. The shooting, which occurred at a post-prom party, also resulted in injuries to four other individuals.
The incident took place around 1:10 a.m. on East Pine Street. Four other victims were transported to the hospital due to their injuries. Paulk was taken to Dorminy Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.
Among the injured were two adolescent males, ages 14 and 15, and a 19-year-old female, who has since been discharged from the hospital. Another 15-year-old male was in critical condition and was transported by air to a hospital in Macon, Georgia.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation apprehended the alleged shooter, 17-year-old Channen Brown. Brown faces charges including felony murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He will be tried as an adult under Georgia law due to his age.
Jared Luke, Principal of Irwin County High School where Paulk was a freshman, described her as possessing a “loving spirit and always a smile on her face.” The loss of such a young life has profoundly impacted the community, with Luke expressing deep sorrow over the incident.
Chelsie King, Paulk’s mother, shared her shock and inconsolable grief with reporters. “I’m just numb. I can’t even wrap my head around it. She was 15 with a full life ahead of her,” she stated.
In an unfortunate continuation of violence, a drive-by shooting was reported near the Bridge Creek Apartments in Fitzgerald, Georgia on Monday, April 29 around 2:48 p.m. This event, believed to be an act of retaliation linked to Paulk’s death, left two men, ages 21 and 24, injured. The older victim was airlifted to a hospital in Mason with a leg wound, while the younger man was transported to a Tifton Hospital after being shot in the upper thigh.
In response to the recent violent incidents, Fitzgerald imposed a curfew for individuals under the age of 17, effective from midnight to 6 a.m.
