Nephew of Rayshard Brooks, man killed by Atlanta police, killed in scooter fight

ATLANTA - Officers are investigating the deadly shooting of a 16-year-old boy in a northwest Atlanta neighborhood early Wednesday morning.

Police tell FOX 5 that they responded to the 1000 block of Cato Street NW after reports of a shooting around 4:30 a.m.

Part of the road was blocked off and about a dozen officers were canvassing the area for evidence with flashlights after teen's body was found in a wooded area behind a home.

The teen's family lives near the crime scene. His mother heard gunshots around 11:30 Tuesday night. 

Stardrecous Brooks said her son, Jakari Rayshard Brooks, was killed during what she believed was a fight over a scooter.

"The house right there they went to retrieve a scooter, whatever they was doing," Brooks mother, Stardrecous Brooks, told FOX 5. "The people start shooting." 

According to Brooks, her family heard gunshots shortly before midnight. When her older son went out to look for his little brother, he found the teen's body. 

"I heard it, I heard it, I heard it," Stardrecous Brooks said. "It was like five shots, and I seen the police riding back and forth up the other street, but no one called and told me anything." 

"I have a son that's not coming back no more, and I'm not going to be able to see him," she said.

The family said the victim was the nephew of Rayshard Brooks, a Black man who was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop at an Atlanta Wendy's in 2020.

RELATED: What has changed 3 years after the deaths of Rayshard Brooks and Secoriea Turner?

Gary Stokes visited the crime scene on Wednesday. Neighbors in the northwest Atlanta neighborhood would not go on camera but tell FOX 5 they fear there will be more violence in retaliation for the deadly shooting. The community activist said he helped the Brooks family in 2020 and would work with others to try to ease tensions. 

"Circumstances are different, but it still touches home, and it's something this family does not need at this time," Stoker said. 

Police are releasing few details in the case.

If you have any information that could help with the investigation, call the Atlanta Police Department.