Stockbridge teen sentenced to life in 2023 shooting of schoolmate at IHOP

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—A Stockbridge teen who fatally shot a schoolmate outside a restaurant was sentenced to life in prison DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced on Wednesday, July 9, following the hearing. 

Jakari Naki Childs, 18, was found guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Possession of a Pistol or Revolver by a Person Under 18 Years Old in connection with the fatal shooting of Jacob Johnson, 16, on July 15, 2023.  Childs was 16 at the time of the shooting.  

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Stacey K. Hydrick, who presided over the trial, sentenced Childs to life with the Possibility of Parole, plus six years to be served consecutively.  

According to the investigation, on the day of the shooting, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded to a report of a person shot at the IHOP restaurant at 3020 Panola Road in Lithonia just before noon.  When they arrived, police found the victim lying on the ground outside the front entrance of the restaurant with a gunshot wound to the head. 

Officers spoke to an employee at the restaurant who witnessed the shooting.  She told police the shooter was her ex-boyfriend, Jakari Childs.  She said that Childs showed up at the restaurant unannounced looking for her.  The victim, who was best friends with the young woman, also worked at the IHOP and notified her about Childs’ arrival.  All three teens attended school together. 

Childs walked back out of the restaurant and several other employees noticed that Childs was armed with a handgun.  Childs’ former girlfriend went outside to look for Childs and asked him to leave the restaurant.  Childs immediately shot Johnson, who was standing next to his ex-girlfriend.  She ran to a nearby business and asked employees to call 911.  Johnson did not survive. 

The case, assigned to the SB 440 Unit, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Buffy Thomas, with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Jordan Riser, District Attorney Investigator Jacqueline Robinson, Victim Advocate Tonesha Bivins and Victim Advocate Chloe Elster.  DeKalb County Police Department Detective V.T. Redrick led the initial investigation. 

Life sentence: Jakari Naki Childs/ Photo via DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office