A Child’s Life Stolen in the Safety of Her Home
Spalding County, GA – The community continues to grieve over the devastating loss of 11-year-old Asijah Jones, a bright young girl whose life was stolen in the most unimaginable way. On March 13, 2023, while peacefully sleeping in her own bed, Asijah was struck and killed by a stray bullet that pierced through the wall of her family’s apartment. What should have been the safest place for a child — her home, her bed — instead became the setting of a tragedy that has shaken the entire county to its core.
This senseless act was the result of gang violence that never should have reached the doors of innocent families. For her mother, brother, and 9-year-old sister who were in the apartment that night, the pain is immeasurable. They were forced to witness the unthinkable — the loss of a beloved daughter and sister in an instant of violence that was never meant for her.
Justice Delivered but Hearts Still Broken
Authorities confirmed that Kionta Parks, a 23-year-old gang member, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus five years for the murder of young Asijah. Prosecutors revealed that Parks, a member of the Zoo Krew gang, fired shots at a rival gang member’s vehicle entering the Northside Hills Apartments. In the chaos of gunfire, one bullet tore through the wall of Asijah’s nearby bedroom, striking her as she slept.
Though Parks admitted his guilt in court, no words of apology or years of imprisonment can undo the destruction left behind. For Asijah’s family, the sentence brings accountability but not closure. Their little girl’s smile, her laughter, and her future were stolen forever. No punishment can bring her back, and the weight of this tragedy will remain with them for a lifetime.
