Friends, Family Mourn Young Father Killed At Cobb Party

AUSTELL, GA -- Friends and family gathered over the weekend to mourn the death of a 23-year-old father gunned down in Kennesaw days earlier. Justin C. Dallas was laid to rest at a 3 p.m. service Sunday at Hanley-Shelton Chapel in Marietta.

Dallas was found deceased from a gunshot wound on West Station Drive on April 2, according to Cobb County police spokeswoman Alicia Chilton.
Friends of the victim told local media that a group of friends were enjoying a party until it erupted into gunfire. They tried to revive Dallas, but it was to no avail, they said.

Rachel Stevenson of Acworth told the Marietta Daily Journal that she was still struggling with the death of Dallas, her 2-month-old baby's father. She said that she will raise the baby, Kingston, with her in Acworth.

“He put everyone before himself,” she was quoted as saying. “He didn’t get to come up in a home where he had all these opportunities. He had to make opportunities for himself. That’s what he was trying to do.”

Nineteen-year-old Naeem Jakwan Edwards of Acworth has been arrested in the slaying.

Stevenson said she was at the party with Dallas and Edwards when the night descended into chaos.

“They didn’t even hate each other," Stevenson told the Journal. "There was no need for Justin to be dead now at all. Those people just left him there. They’re just as guilty as the one who killed him.”

A GoFundMe account set up by Dallas' friends asks for assistance to help his baby son, Kingston.

"Anyone who knows me or my family was literally like blood to us. We would do anything in the world for him we always had his back. I know there are others out there who cared about him just as much as we did. So we asked if you could please help with this donation so we can help take care of Kingston James Ruairi Dallas, Justins son," the account reads.

Edwards remains behind bars in Cobb Detention Center. He is charged with felony murder and aggravated assault and is behind held without bond, according to Cobb County Sheriff's Office records.

Image via GoFundMe