Teen shot and killed during Senior Skip Day event

Family and friends of Justin Etienne, an 18-year-old high school senior, gathered on Saturday in Conyers for a balloon release in his memory. Justin was shot and killed on Wednesday at Denny Dobbs Park during a Senior Skip Day event. Police have arrested 16-year-old Jarvis Hinton Jr. from Covington. He faces multiple charges, including murder and aggravated assault. The shooting has sparked concerns about gun violence among young people. Justin’s father, Hugh Neil, expressed a strong message about the need to stop such violence, lamenting that young people often do not live to see adulthood. At the memorial, Justin's parents spoke about his character. His mother, Tierra Neil, described him as kind and caring. Justin was a senior on the soccer team and had been accepted to Georgia State University. He was waiting for his SAT scores to see if he could also attend Kennesaw State University. Now, rather than planning for college, his family is focused on arranging his funeral. Tierra Neil expressed deep sorrow and grief, wishing she could have protected her son. The family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses.