Days after a deadly shooting spree left three people dead—including 19-year-old Akeela Clarke—grieving friends and family are still trying to make sense of a tragedy that began with workplace gunfire and ended in a teenage girl’s bedroom.
Clarke, a recent high school graduate with dreams of becoming a labor and delivery nurse, was killed early Friday morning, April 11, 2025, when 24-year-old Dwayne Eduh allegedly broke into her Covington home and opened fire.
Authorities say Eduh had just shot two co-workers at a nearby Walmart before targeting Clarke, a fellow employee.
Now, as the initial shock begins to settle, the community is gathering not only to grieve but to understand how such a senseless act of violence could take place—and how to prevent the next one.
A Timeline of Tragedy: What We Know
According to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the violence began at a Walmart in Covington where Eduh and all of his victims were employed. Eduh reportedly opened fire at the store, killing 21-year-old Khalaf Barksdale and injuring 29-year-old Ryan Bradley, who remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Eduh then made his way to Clarke’s home, where he allegedly forced entry and shot the teen multiple times while she sought refuge in her mother’s room.
“He just… shot through the bedroom door, charged through the bedroom, applied about seven to eight shots and that was it,” said Samantha Clarke, Akeela’s mother.
Eduh fled the state and later turned the gun on himself in Aiken, South Carolina, after a standoff with law enforcement.
He remains in critical condition.
Remembering Akeela: ‘This Is What She Did—She Cared’
Over the weekend, Clarke’s loved ones gathered nightly for balloon releases—one for each year of her life. The tributes have drawn dozens of mourners, many of whom considered her family.
“This is heartbreaking,” said Danielle Roddy, who lost her own daughter, Da’menica, to gun violence in 2023. “Akeela was her best friend. They were thick as thieves.”
Clarke, Roddy said, had been instrumental in helping her heal from that loss:
“She was the one who came and did the first balloon release at my house. This is what she does—she’s so thoughtful.”
Friends described Akeela as generous, ambitious, and full of joy.
“She’ll give you her last dollar if she had it,” said Nathalia Edwards, who had dreams of starting a medical practice with Clarke one day.
What Motivated the Shooter?
One of the biggest unanswered questions is: why?
Authorities have confirmed that Eduh and Clarke were coworkers, but the motive remains unclear. Clarke’s mother said her daughter had no romantic involvement with Eduh and expressed confusion about why she was targeted.
Investigators are still piecing together the relationship dynamics between the shooter and the victims, and whether any prior workplace tensions may have existed.
Calls for Change: From Mourning to Action
Roddy, who has now lost both her daughter and Akeela to gun violence, is channeling her grief into activism. She’s working with local authorities to launch an awareness campaign focused on violence prevention and youth safety.
“We’ve got to do better as a community,” she urged. “No other family should feel this.”
A GoFundMe page has been created by the Clarke family to help cover unexpected funeral costs. The fundraiser, which also serves as a tribute to Akeela’s “vibrant and joyful” spirit, is drawing support from those moved by her story.
A Community Left Asking Why
As Covington continues to reel from the senseless killing, the life Akeela Clarke lived—one of kindness, ambition, and compassion—is being remembered just as vividly as the violence that ended it.
“She’s a 19-year-old child, my daughter,” her mother said. “And she didn’t deserve this.”
For now, a bedroom door bears bullet holes. Balloons drift skyward each night. And a community—still aching—keeps asking the same questions: How did this happen?
