An inmate at Smith State Prison in Glennville, Georgia, fatally shot a prison employee before turning the gun on himself in a tragic incident that occurred on Sunday. The perpetrator, identified as Jaydrekus Hart, was serving time for voluntary manslaughter.
The victim, Aureon Shavea Grace, was working in the prison's kitchen when the shooting took place around 4:30 a.m. Grace, a 24-year-old woman, was declared dead at the scene, while Hart was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) stated that the inmate used a gun in the attack and then turned it on himself. The GDC is currently conducting an investigation into the murder-suicide. Hart, who was serving the early stages of a 20-year sentence, was scheduled for release in June 2043.
Authorities are looking into how Hart managed to obtain the weapon while incarcerated. The GDC has taken custody of the gun and is committed to conducting a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances leading up to the tragic incident. GDC Special Agents are providing support to the facility during the investigation.
As more details become available and confirmed, updates will be provided on the case. Source reached out to GDC officials for information on how the inmate accessed the gun, but immediate responses were not provided.