On the evening of June 11, 2022, Darian Javaris Bennett (age 38) went to a home on Chandler Field Drive in Covington, Newton County, Georgia, where he shot and killed Keashawn Washington (age 38), the mother of their 14-month-old daughter Jakari Bennett, and shot the child's 63-year-old grandmother Peggy Burns in the head. Bennett then kidnapped Jakari. An Amber Alert was issued. The following morning, around 7:00 a.m. on June 12, Bennett called 911 and stated he intended to kill the baby and himself. Police used GPS to locate his abandoned car at Riverdale United Methodist Church in Clayton County. When Riverdale police arrived at the church, they heard gunshots from behind the building and found both Bennett and Jakari shot to death. Bennett died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and Jakari died from multiple gunshot wounds in what was ruled a homicide.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The GBI fatality report states the cause of death was "Multiple Gunshot Wounds." The WSB-TV article states "Bennett shot the 1-year-old girl and himself," and the 11Alive article confirms "Riverdale Police responded to Sunday's incident and said they heard the shots as they arrived."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The GBI fatality report lists the cause of death as "Multiple Gunshot Wounds," and the WSB-TV article states "Bennett shot the 1-year-old girl and himself." The child was deliberately shot by her father, constituting inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
The WSB-TV article explicitly describes a murder-suicide: "Darian Javaris Bennett, the suspect and father of the child, is also dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound." He shot the child and then killed himself. The 11Alive article confirms: "Bennett killed himself Sunday after calling 911 to let officers know he was near a church in Riverdale and that he was going to kill his daughter."
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The WSB-TV article explicitly states: "Darian Javaris Bennett, the suspect and father of the child, is also dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to deputies, Bennett shot the 1-year-old girl and himself." The 11Alive article confirms Bennett was the father: "38-year-old Darian Javaris Bennett shot and killed his baby's mother before taking their daughter, Jaquari Bennett."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The WSB-TV article states that Darian Bennett "shot and killed the mother of the child and shot the child's grandmother in the head." The 11Alive article confirms: "38-year-old Darian Javaris Bennett shot and killed his baby's mother before taking their daughter." The father's shooting of the child's mother constitutes domestic violence by a parent/caregiver.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the text. The 11Alive article states: "The mother's two older children, ages 11 and 12, were at the home when the initial shooting occurred. They are not related to Darian Bennett." This means two children were exposed to the violence. Additionally, the WSB-TV article reports that "Sunday morning around 7:00, NCSO said they got a 911 call from Bennett saying he was going to kill the baby and himself," indicating the perpetrator explicitly announced his intent to kill the child to law enforcement, and "Police used GPS to locate Bennett's car" but arrived only to hear the fatal shots. A statewide Amber Alert was issued but was unable to prevent the child's death. The grandmother, Peggy Burns, survived a gunshot to the head and was able to provide critical information to deputies before being transported to the hospital in critical condition.
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