The communities of East Point and DeKalb County are grieving after the tragic loss of 25-year-old elementary school teacher and cheerleading coach, Kaalynn Jackson, who was allegedly shot and killed by her girlfriend over the weekend.
Authorities say Jackson, a beloved inter-related teacher at Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary School and a cheerleading coach, was found fatally shot on Saturday, April 19, around 10 p.m.
Police responded to a home on Derwin Brown Drive in DeKalb County, where Jackson’s girlfriend, 24-year-old Janai Colbert, was arrested at the scene. Colbert has been charged with malice murder and remains in custody at the DeKalb County Jail.
Jackson’s family confirmed the two were in a relationship and shared emotional memories of her bright spirit.
“They were fine just minutes before it happened,” said Jackson’s sister, Crystal Gray. “Her smile was just—it was infectious.” Her mother, Michelle Jackson, expressed her deep sorrow, saying, “You took something that held us together. I can’t go to sleep. Because if I go to sleep, it becomes too real.”
Court records reportedly indicate there was a history of domestic violence between Jackson and Colbert, though it remains unclear what sparked the fatal confrontation.
In response to Jackson’s death, Fulton County Schools notified parents and families of the tragedy and are offering grief resources to students and staff members affected by the loss.
The tragedy has left a profound void in the community, with many remembering Jackson not just for her dedication to teaching and coaching, but for the joy and kindness she brought to everyone she met.
