GLENNVILLE, GA – An inmate at Smith State Prison in Georgia fatally shot a prison employee before taking his own life, officials reported.
The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) confirmed the incident occurred early Sunday morning. Jaydrekus Hart, who was serving a sentence for voluntary manslaughter, was identified as the shooter. The victim, 24-year-old Aureon Shavea Grace, was working in the prison kitchen when she was shot around 4:30 a.m.
Following the shooting, Hart turned the gun on himself. Grace was pronounced dead at the scene, while Hart was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died, according to officials.
At the time of the incident, Hart was in the early stages of a 20-year sentence and was expected to be released in June 2043. The GDC has launched an investigation to determine how Hart obtained the weapon and the circumstances leading up to the tragic event.
“The weapon is currently in GDC custody, and a thorough investigation is underway,” a GDC official stated. “Our Special Agents are on-site providing support and gathering information.”
This incident has raised concerns about security measures within the facility. The GDC assured that updates would be provided as more details become available.