Prior to turning the gun on himself, the prisoner shot and killed a 24-year-old employee of the kitchen. At the Smith State Prison in rural southeast Georgia, a fatal shooting took place early on Sunday morning.
In the jail kitchen, Jaydrekus Hart shot the female food service employee at roughly 4:30 in the morning. Aureon Shavea Grace, a worker at the food service business Aramark, was identified as the kitchen staff.
The investigation is being conducted by the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC).
“The weapon is in GDC custody at this time, and a complete and thorough investigation of what led up to this tragic incident will be carried out,” the department stated. “GDC Special Agents are responding and are providing staffing support to the facility.”
Hart had a potential release date of June 2043 and was serving a 20-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter in Carroll County.
How Hart got hold of the weapon remains a mystery. According to a prison official, more information will be given as it becomes available.
“We are heartbroken over the loss of our colleague and our hearts and prayers go out to her family,” Aramark spokesperson Debbie Albert stated. “This is a tragedy for all of us.”
