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Ja'Darrius Williams

Age 18

Gallatin, Tennessee

Killed one month before his graduation

His friends remember him as bright, smart, funny, driven, talented and thoughtful.

At Station Camp High School, where he was a senior, one classmate said, “He will always be missed. He was my best friend. And a friend to many.” On an online tribute page, another acquaintance recalled his quick wit and sweet smile.

Ja'Darrius Williams, 18, was shot and killed on April 7, 2018, in Gallatin, Tennessee, about a month before he would have graduated high school with his classmates.

By Sophia McDermott-Hughes · Age 18
Meet the Reporters

More than 100 jokesters

Daron Johnson

He went to celebrate another’s life

Matthew James Jurado

Challenging student had a compassionate heart

Jayvone J. Shackelford-Bishop

Friends together like Lilo & Stitch

Deandre Moon

Overnight tragedy for a basketball fan

Will Earl Davis Jr.

The rising senior was always smiling

Manuel Lopez Jr.

High school senior set to graduate

Rashiya Melton

Joins brother, leaves behind her twin

Ryan J. Dillon

A playful boy, stopped by bullets

Kaiden Vague

Sixteenth birthday. Golden birthday. Last birthday.

Eric Xavier Degori

His jokes could make anyone laugh

Jonathan David Freeman Jr.

Debated anything, from music to Deflategate

Robert Carranza

He liked to post song lyrics

Bryan Portales Escalante

Phone, wallet, shoes and, life — gone

Natwan Kian Holyfield

Supposed to go to homecoming, prom

Darion Gordon

Sixteen years erased by one bullet

Terale Claridy-Vaught

‘Solid’ friend barely gets to adulthood

Edgar Alan Espino

Jokester loved to make people laugh

Amauri Green

Died while fixing a flat tire

Eddie Daiquan Grant

A devoted boyfriend and rap fan

Steven Alexander Jr.

He missed his first Father’s Day