Late on the night of May 24, 2023, a domestic dispute at an apartment on Country Club Drive in Americus, Georgia, escalated into gunfire between two men. Police arrived at about 10:25 p.m. and found both men with gunshot wounds. Twenty-four-year-old Michael Darnell Atkins-Merritt was pronounced dead at the scene; 26-year-old Je’Kwan Jamal Cobb was taken to a hospital and later died of his injuries.

Investigators concluded the two men exchanged gunfire during their altercation and have said they do not believe any other people were involved. Atkins-Merritt, born in Americus on November 12, 1998, was raised in the Americus-Sumter County School System and leaves behind a young daughter and family. Funeral services were held on June 3, 2023, at Whole Truth International Ministries in Americus.

If anyone witnessed the events that night or has information about the dispute, please share what is known.