Clayton County, Ga.— On a night meant for gratitude and turkey, 16‑year‑old Taylor Hamilton lost her life. She was fatally shot just after 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day — while waiting for an Uber outside a home on Wentworth Avenue in Ellenwood. A 15‑year‑old boy, identified as Adonis Alkarim, has been arrested and is being charged as an adult in her death.
Taylor had just celebrated her 16th birthday on Nov. 4. Her mother, Nandi Hamilton, said her daughter had gone to the house earlier Thanksgiving — convinced to visit by a friend. She was waiting on the front porch for an Uber when a group of teens came outside. According to the mother, the teens were mocking Taylor about the recent death of her boyfriend.
Weeks before, Taylor’s boyfriend, 16‑year‑old Dequavious Royalston, had been fatally shot when his stepfather allegedly mistook him for an intruder. The grief and ridicule surrounding his death, Taylor’s mother said, took a toll on her daughter. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, other teens had reportedly been taunting Taylor — a harassment she didn’t deserve.
On the night she died, heart‑breaking details paint a chilling picture: Taylor sat quietly outside with earphones on, waiting for her ride. The doorbell camera from the home captured the shooting, a video her mother described as “senseless” and “heartbreaking.” That footage is now circulating on social media — adding further anguish to the family’s grief.
In that video, according to statements from the family, the boy pulled out a gun after more jeering. Taylor, reportedly frustrated but unarmed and defenseless, told him plainly: “I don’t care about no gun.” Moments later, she was shot. Her mother and aunt describe him as a “monster,” unable to fathom how a 15‑year-old could be so cold.
At school — Booker T. Washington High School — Taylor was a sophomore, active in JROTC, and loved by teachers, friends and classmates. She earned good grades and had dreams of becoming a veterinarian, inspired by her caring nature and love for animals. More than anything, those who knew her said she was the “big sister” of her friend group — always ready to listen, help, and uplift others.
The boy now faces serious charges: malice murder, first‑degree child cruelty, possession of a firearm by a minor, and possession of a firearm during a felony. Exactly what fueled the taunting — and then the gunfire — remains under investigation.
For Taylor’s family, the holidays will never be the same. In the place of festive lights and laughter — they’re now planning a funeral. A fundraising page has been launched to help cover burial costs, as loved ones struggle to imagine a world without her.
