County leaders say a 12-week school initiative will emphasize conflict resolution, leadership and youth development in areas with higher crime.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The shooting deaths of two young brothers have brought renewed attention to youth violence in DeKalb County as officials prepare to launch a school-based program designed to help students manage conflict and develop alternatives to violence.
The Education to Empowerment program, described by county officials as a 12-week initiative for students in sixth through 12th grades, was announced days after 11-year-old Jamarion Rolle and 12-year-old Jakhi Clark were killed in a shooting near their apartment. County officials said work on the initiative began about a year before the killings, but the tragedy became part of the discussion as leaders presented the program to the public.
DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said the initiative will focus on schools in areas county officials have identified as having higher levels of crime. The program is expected to address violence prevention, leadership development, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, youth engagement and preparation for the workforce.
The county has committed $250,000 to the initiative, according to officials. County and school leaders are developing a plan for determining which students will participate. Cochran-Johnson said young people need constructive opportunities in addition to warnings about behavior.
The rollout came as DeKalb County continued grieving Jamarion and Jakhi. The brothers were shot Sept. 20 near an apartment complex on North Hairston Road. Jamarion died at the scene, while Jakhi was taken to a hospital and later died. Two women related to the boys were also wounded.
Police arrested 18-year-old Julian Ellis two days after the shooting. DeKalb County police said Ellis faces two counts of felony murder and six counts of aggravated assault. The charges are allegations, and the investigation remains open. Ellis’ attorney has said additional evidence and context need to be examined through the investigative and judicial process.
Authorities have investigated an earlier conflict as part of their effort to determine what led to the shooting. The boys’ mother told police about disputes involving young people after a football game in the days before the gunfire, according to reports based on police records. Investigators have continued examining evidence to determine the full sequence of events and whether anyone else could face charges.
DeKalb County Police Chief Greg Padrick said after the arrest that the deaths had affected the boys’ family, schools and the wider community. Police have said investigators will continue following the evidence and take appropriate action if it points to additional people responsible for crimes.
The school district also responded to the loss. Jamarion was a fifth grader at Stone Mill Elementary School, and Jakhi was a sixth grader at Stone Mountain Middle School. Counselors, psychologists and other support personnel were made available to students and staff following their deaths.
Interim Superintendent Norman Sauce III said the deaths underscored the burden school communities face when students are victims of gun violence. County leaders presented Education to Empowerment as one part of a broader effort to intervene with young people before conflicts escalate.
The program is expected to move forward as the criminal investigation continues. Officials have not presented the initiative as a response that can resolve the circumstances surrounding a single shooting, but as a longer-term effort aimed at giving participating students more tools to handle conflict and make productive choices.
Author note: Last updated September 27, 2026.