Crime & Safety
Teen Shooting Victim at Snellville House Party Identified
Shots rang out after an altercation at a party at about 12:30 a.m. on Saturday.
SNELLVILLE, GA -- The teenager who was shot and killed at a Snellville house party Saturday night has been identified.
Police say Jahlah Branch, 17, of Lithonia, was killed when shots rang out after a dispute at the party.
Gwinnett County Police now believe there were about 100 people at the party, on the 2900 block of Aviation Circle, when an altercation broke out around 12:30 a.m. Saturday.
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"During the altercation, several people produced firearms and began shooting," Gwinnett Police said in a news release.
They say Branch was found after the shooting with a gunshot wound to the head.
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Police say the suspect, along with others, fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
They are urging parents whose children were at the party to come forward with any information they may have.
"The loss of life for such a young person is always a tragedy," Gwinnett Police Cpl. Deon Washington said Saturday. "Our primary objective at this point is to conduct a thorough investigation and paint a clear picture for exactly what led to this homicide."
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