Paulding County, Georgia – Family and friends in Paulding County are preparing to honor the life of an 11-year-old boy who tragically lost his life in a shooting incident in April. Zander Whatley’s loved ones are planning a balloon release event to commemorate what would have been his 12th birthday.
The family is organizing the balloon release ceremony at Rockmart High School, followed by the first day of public viewing at the school’s gymnasium. Whatley’s celebration of life service is scheduled on Saturday at 2 p.m.
On the night of April 29, Shareeda Alexander Dorsey, her husband, and nine of their 13 children were at home in the Smallwood Farms subdivision when gunshots rang out. A bullet pierced through the wall, hitting Whatley as he tried to run upstairs. Despite immediate medical attention, the young boy succumbed to his injuries.
As the killer remains at large, the family speculates that there may have been a connection between the shooter and one of Whatley’s older siblings. William Dorsey, Whatley’s stepfather, expressed that the shooter may have been targeting someone else but accidentally struck Whatley.
Whatley, a fifth-grader at Hutchens Elementary School, was known for his joyous spirit, love for attending school, and passion for singing. Described as a “happy kid” who had a strong faith, he leaves behind a community devastated by his untimely death.
Authorities from the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward anonymously through the Paulding Sheriff’s Office tip line at 770-443-3047 or via the Paulding Sheriff’s Office mobile app.
The upcoming event to honor Zander Whatley’s memory serves as a stark reminder of the devastating loss his family and community have endured. In the face of tragedy, they seek closure, justice, and unity as they remember a young life gone too soon.