Clark Atlanta University baseball player Jatonne Sterling, 20, is shot dead as students gather for a candlelight vigil to honor him as police charge a 25-year-old man with murder
The Clark Atlanta University community is mourning the loss of 20-year-old baseball player Jatonne Sterling after he was shot dead Tuesday.
Police have arrested 25-year-old Keontay Holliman-People in connection with the shooting and have charged him with first degree murder and aggravated assault.
According to officials, Sterling and Holliman-People knew each other and got into an argument.
“We know there was some correspondence prior to Tuesday and even as early as Tuesday morning,” Atlanta Deputy Police Commissioner Charles Hampton Jr. said during a news conference Thursday.
“It wasn’t random murder.”
Clark Atlanta University baseball player Jatonne Sterling was killed Tuesday at the age of 20
Students gathered to hold a candlelight vigil for Sterling, with a suspect in police custody
Hampton added that Sterling got into a parked vehicle with Holliman-People and another unidentified person, which resulted in an escalated argument that resulted in shots being fired inside the car.
Authorities responded to the Lyke House Catholic Center just before 2pm, where they found Sterling and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Sterling was originally from Chicago – where he excelled at baseball and earned a scholarship to play for the Panthers in Division II.
After the shooting, students organized a vigil on the Clark Atlanta campus to remember his life.
The university paid tribute to him, writing on Twitter: “Our hearts and prayers go out to the family, friends and teammates of our student Jatonne Sterling.
“Please include his family and the entire CAU community in your prayers.”
In his spare time, Sterling also pursued a career in music, which he heavily promoted on his Instagram page.