The tragic shooting death of an 11-year-old kid in Paulding County was verified by local officials on Monday night. At about 11:15 p.m., officers from Paulding County were dispatched to a disturbing complaint of a gun attack at a home off Ruth Way, in a quiet residential neighborhood close to Ga. 92.
When the deputies arrived, they didn’t spend any time getting the little victim the medical attention he needed. The injuries the youngster sustained were fatal, despite their heroic efforts, according to the sheriff’s office. The subsequent Tuesday, Paulding County Coroner Lindsey Eberhart identified the young life’s victim as Zander Whatley, whose death sent shockwaves across the town.
Deputies are withholding information about possible suspects, leaving the purpose for this horrible act unknown. What makes this horrific shooting all the more tragic is that we still don’t know what led up to it.
In a heartfelt Facebook message, Zander Whatley’s devastated mother, Shareeda Dorsey, tenderly recalled her son, who was about to celebrate his twelfth birthday in a few weeks. Dorsey’s comments captured the depths of sorrow and shock felt at the unexpected death of a kid cherished by many. She shared the excruciating pain of trying to comfort her son’s grieving siblings while also accepting her son’s absence.
While the community deals with the immense sadness and disbelief caused by this tragic event, the sheriff’s office has assured the public that the inquiry is still carrying on. For the sake of little Zander Whatley and his bereaved family, detectives are working around the clock to follow up on any leads they find and solve the complex case.
The community comes together to help the Whatley family after their tragic loss, providing them with comfort, support, and solidarity. A heartbreaking reminder of how precarious life is and how random acts of violence may be is the murder of an innocent young person.
With each new development in the inquiry, the public’s expectation is that the killers of this terrible act of violence would be found and punished. Until then, Zander Whatley will remain a guiding light in the minds and hearts of his loved ones, illuminating the depths of unimaginable despair.