Westlake High teacher killed in Atlanta murder-suicide
South Fulton community mourns teacher
The family of Westlake High School engineering teacher Kevin Smith is mourning after Atlanta police say his younger brother killed him in a murder-suicide at a home on Head Road.
ATLANTA - A beloved Westlake High School engineering teacher was shot and killed by his younger brother on Head Road in southwest Atlanta in what police say was a murder-suicide.
Westlake High teacher killed
What we know:
Atlanta police say 55-year-old Kelvin Smith was shot and killed by his younger brother in a murder-suicide at a home on Head Road. Smith's son, Kwaku, was inside the house during the shooting and said his father protected his family until his final moments.
Smith was a Georgia Tech graduate who gave up an engineering career to pursue his passion for teaching. He taught engineering at Westlake High School and spent 17 summers at Phillips Academy in Andover, where he created the "Beyond Robots Program."
Investigation into Atlanta shooting
What we don't know:
Police have not released the identity of the younger brother or disclosed a motive behind the murder-suicide.
Authorities have not stated what led to the shooting inside the Head Road home.
Family honors teacher's legacy
What they're saying:
Desiree Smith, Kelvin Smith's former wife, said he was the most positive and optimistic person she had ever known. The two raised three adult children and were raising two grandchildren together on the same street.
"He was a father figure to hundreds, maybe thousands of students," his daughter, Ayanna Smith, said. "He was the type of person... you could feel his love and his care."
Former colleagues noted Smith's habit of "giving people flowers" by directly approaching students, faculty and dining hall staff with physical flowers and words of appreciation.
"Up until his last moments, he protected us," his son, Kwaku Smith, said. "He protected us and that is just a testament of who he is. He protected young boys from the streets. Even young girls from doing stuff they did not need to be doing."
Beloved educator leaves legacy
The backstory:
Smith believed that kindness and staying true to oneself were the most important qualities a person could have.
Family members say his legacy of positive affirmations, mentorship and love will continue to impact the community.
What you can do:
The family has set up an online fundraiser.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from FOX 5 Atlanta reporter Aungelique Proctor, who interviewed Kelvin Smith's former wife Desiree Smith, daughter Ayanna Smith, and son Kwaku Smith, as well as statements from the Atlanta Police Department.