A devastating incident unfolded on Friday, April 11, 2025, when 19-year-old Akeela Clarke, a vibrant nursing student with dreams of becoming a labor and delivery nurse, was fatally shot in her home by a coworker from Walmart. The targeted attack, which began at the Salem Road Walmart near Covington, left two people dead, one injured, and the suspect deceased after a self-inflicted gunshot wound, sending shockwaves through the community approximately 35 miles southeast of Atlanta.
The violence erupted around 1:30 a.m. at the Walmart Supercenter on Salem Road, a store closed to the public with only employees present. Authorities report that 24-year-old Dwayne Eduh, a Walmart employee, got into an argument with coworkers Khalaf Barksdale, 21, and Ryan Bradley, 29. Following the altercation, Eduh exited the store, retrieved a firearm from his vehicle, and returned with deadly intent.
Inside the Walmart, Eduh shot Barksdale, who died at the scene, and Bradley, who was critically wounded but has since stabilized in hospital care. After the initial attack, Eduh drove approximately two miles to Akeela Clarke’s residence on Emerson Trail. Forcing entry by kicking in the front door, he targeted Clarke in a chilling sequence of events witnessed by her family.
“He came in her room and he went for her and he walked right past my sister. He didn’t even look in her direction, he didn’t say nothing to her, he didn’t point the gun at her, he didn’t try to hurt her. He came for his target and he got his target unfortunately,”
recounted Nathalia Edwards, Clarke’s aunt.
Samantha Clarke, Akeela’s mother, stood frozen as the horror unfolded.
“He started shooting and in shock, I froze, and she dropped,”
she said.
Akeela fled upstairs, locking herself in a bedroom, but Eduh shot through the door, struck her, then kicked it down.
“He just kept on shooting her and shooting her and shooting her and shooting her and shooting her,”
Samantha described.
“He just emptied the whole magazine on her and then he left. I was right there. Everything happened in front of me.”
Following the shootings, Eduh fled on Interstate 20 toward South Carolina. Law enforcement tracked his phone and attempted negotiations for his surrender. However, upon the arrival of South Carolina authorities, Eduh turned the gun on himself. Taken into custody in critical condition, he was transported to an Augusta hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday evening, April 13, 2025, as confirmed by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that this was not a random mass shooting but a targeted attack.
“This was not an active shooter situation. The suspect specifically targeted individuals they knew,”
They stated that no specific motive had been disclosed.
Akeela Clarke, a 19-year-old nursing student, had been employed at Walmart for seven months while pursuing her dream of becoming a labor and delivery nurse. Described by loved ones as a beacon of light, her loss has left an indelible void.
“She’s like, how the sun is shining is probably her. That’s literally what she was. She was a light. She was the life of the party,”
Said Nathalia Edwards. Known for her generosity, Edwards added,
“She’s really vibrant, bubbly, friendly, loving, caring. She’d give you her last dollar if she had it.”
Akeela shared a special bond with her aunt, planning a future together in healthcare.
“She was so ready to go to college and become a labor and delivery nurse. She was just ready to take the world by storm,”
Edwards shared, recalling their dream of opening a medical practice post-graduation.
Clarke’s compassion and ambition made her a beloved figure among family and friends.
On Sunday, April 13, 2025, the Newton County community gathered to honor Clarke with a balloon release, launching blue balloons skyward while chanting,
“I love you, Akeela.”
This marked the first of 19 planned nightly gatherings, each symbolizing a year of her life.
“I honestly didn’t want to release my balloon, but I did it for her, and I miss her a lot,”
said classmate Domonique Roddy. Danielle Roddy, who considered Akeela a daughter, reflected on their closeness:
“They were thick as thieves. That was her best friend. And Akeela would come to my house every other day. I’d drop her off at work at night, she’d come, and we’d go to church, we’d do all of that.”
The tragedy has reignited discussions about gun violence in Newton County. Danielle Roddy, who lost her daughter Da’menica to gun violence on July 22, 2024, now mourns Akeela, Da’menica’s best friend.
“I lost my daughter to gun violence, July 22,”
Roddy said, her voice heavy with grief.
Partnering with the sheriff’s office, she is developing a program to raise awareness.
“We have to do better as a community. We have to come together. We just got to bring that awareness to the community. And I don’t know what it’s going to take, but I know that it takes some sticking together,”
She urged.
Walmart’s corporate office released a statement:
“We’re heartbroken by what’s happened. There’s no place for violence in our stores. We’re focused on taking care of our associates and supporting law enforcement with their investigation.”
In response to the tragedy, Akeela’s sister, Destiny Clarke, launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Help Us Remember Akeela: Fund Memorial Services” to cover funeral expenses.
“Akeela was one of the most vibrant and joyful individuals you could ever meet, and this tragedy will leave an enduring wound in our family,”
She wrote.
“No parent should ever have to bury their child, let alone witness their death.”
Donations will support memorial services to celebrate Akeela’s life, uniting the community in her honor.
The death of Akeela Clarke is a profound loss—a young woman with a promising future extinguished in an act of targeted violence. As her loved ones mourn through balloon releases and gatherings, they also advocate for change, spotlighting gun violence and workplace safety.
This incident, rooted in personal conflict rather than randomness, has left Newton County grappling with grief and a renewed call to action. Akeela’s legacy as a vibrant, loving soul endures, supported by a community responding with solidarity and compassion through emotional tributes and financial aid for her family.
