Family of Sandy Springs Murder Victim: Suspects Are A "Threat" To The Public

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- Family members of the Clark Atlanta University student shot and killed last month in Sandy Springs continue to take one day at a time as they mourn the loss of a woman who was ripped from their lives too soon.

The family of Cierra Ford, 25, also released a statement on Tuesday in response to the news that three men have been arrested and charged with the college student's murder.

"We are alleviated the suspects have been apprehended," brother Clarence Ford said. "Last Monday was the day we tucked my beautiful sister in her casket and laid her to rest. It was the most painful thing that my family has ever had to endure."

The Sandy Springs Police Department told Patch late last week that New York City residents Joseph Clarke, 24, Devin Kingdom, 22, and Malik Ortiz, 19, were all arrested Dec. 6 in Brevard County, Florida, in connection to the fatal Nov. 25 shooting.

Officers responded to a shots fired call around 3 a.m. at 165 North River Drive. They arrived at the residence to find Ford deceased and 19-year-old Tyrique Lobban seriously injured. Lobban was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Sandy Springs police spokesperson Capt. Mike Lindstrom said the three suspects are awaiting extradition back to Fulton County.

"It does not appear that the incident is random, but we do not know for certain what the motive was," he said when asked if a reasoning behind the shooting has been uncovered.

Ford went on to say these past few weeks have "felt like a nightmare" that he and other family members are unable to wake up from.

"We are hurt and angry," he said. "My mother grieves day and night wondering how could these boys have so much malice in their heart. Why did they take my sister’s life? They didn’t give her a chance to live. They didn’t give her a chance to graduate from college."

Cierra Ford was enrolled as a junior at Clark Atlanta as a speech communications major and hoped to become a journalist, her brother said.

Not only did the three men allegedly deprive Cierra Ford of her opportunity to become a wife, mother or aunt, Clarence Ford said their actions also robbed his sister of a chance to live a better life.

"We were looking forward to the day that we would all fly down there to see my sister graduate and receive her bachelor’s degree," he said. "Instead we now have to fly down to witness justice administered to the culprits of my sister’s homicide."

The Ford family went on to thank the Sandy Springs Police Department and others for "their terrific work in apprehending the suspects." The family also said they are looking forward to seeing all three men prosecuted to the fullest extent.

"We know that none of this will bring Cierra back," Clarence Ford said. "However it is our hope that the Office of the Fulton County District Attorney incapacitates the suspects because it is clear that they are a threat to the public and we do not want any family to have to experience what we have just gone through."

Image via Clarence Ford