Slain Stockbridge teen was celebrating college acceptance when shot
The family of a Stockbridge High School senior says he was shot while celebrating his acceptance into college.
Jesse Thomas, 17, died early Saturday morning during a house party near McDonough, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.
Police are looking for 19-year-old Dexter Covington, whom they are calling a person of interest in the shooting.
MORE: Deadly shooting may be linked to house party
MORE: Police seek teenager in connection with fatal shooting at house party
Thomas was celebrating after just being admitted to Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Fla., his family told Channel 2 Action News.
Rodney Latham, the basketball coach at Stockbridge, said the 6-foot-4 teen was one of his best players.
“He would run through a wall for me,” Latham told Channel 2.
Thomas planned to continue his basketball career in college.
Stockbridge plans to dedicate next season to him and retire his No. 13 jersey.
“We're going to make sure we take that with us to away games, to home games,” Latham said. “We'll save a seat for him.”
