A 16-year-old Georgia girl was shot and killed on Thanksgiving Day while waiting for an Uber, after teens taunted her about her murdered boyfriend in a confrontation captured on doorbell video, according to police.
Taylor Hamilton was killed on the 3000 block of Wentworth Avenue in Ellenwood just after 6 p.m. on Nov. 27, 2025. Clayton County police arrested Adonis Alkarim, 15, in connection with her death. Authorities are charging him as an adult.
Taylor’s mother, Nandi Hamilton, says the incident unfolded while her daughter sat outside a home waiting for a ride. The doorbell camera footage shows Taylor sitting with her earphones on as the Uber was five minutes away. According to Hamilton, other teens emerged from the house and began confronting her daughter.
“They were mad about her keeping her boyfriend’s name alive and they didn’t like that,” Hamilton told local media. Taylor had been mourning the death of her boyfriend, who was murdered.
The confrontation escalated when the 15-year-old boy pulled out a gun. Taylor told him she did not care about the weapon and initially turned away. After further taunting, she got in the suspect’s face. That’s when he fired.
“He’s a monster. He shot her in cold blood,” Hamilton said.
Taylor was transported to a hospital where she died shortly after arrival. Her mother believes her daughter was lured to the location by people she thought were friends.
The shooting has devastated a family now planning a funeral during what should have been the holiday season. Hamilton described receiving the horrifying news that her daughter had been shot, then rushing to the hospital praying Taylor would survive.
“Planning a funeral instead of Christmas. Thanksgiving will never be the same,” she said.
Taylor was a sophomore at Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, where she was known as an excellent student who made A grades. She participated in JROTC and dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. Teachers and administrators at the school loved her, according to her mother.
Those who knew Taylor described her as caring and nurturing. She served as a big sister figure to her friends, always looking out for others. She loved taking care of babies and babysitting children. Her mother says she was full of life and had a positive impact on everyone around her.
The 15-year-old suspect faces multiple serious charges in connection with Taylor’s death. He has been charged with malice murder, first-degree child cruelty, possession of a firearm by someone under 16, and possession of a firearm during a felony. Because authorities are prosecuting him as an adult, the case will proceed through the adult criminal justice system rather than juvenile court.
Malice murder in Georgia carries severe penalties and indicates prosecutors believe the killing was committed with deliberate intent to cause death. The child cruelty charge reflects the ages of those involved, while the firearm charges address both the suspect’s age and the use of a gun during the commission of a felony.
The doorbell video that captured the shooting has become central to the police investigation. However, it has also circulated on social media, adding to the family’s grief. Hamilton expressed concern about people sharing the footage online.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about youth violence and access to firearms. Questions remain about how a 15-year-old obtained a gun and why he had it with him during what began as a Thanksgiving gathering.
Taylor’s mother expressed both anger and sorrow over her daughter’s death. She questioned how the teen could have been angry enough to pull out a weapon and shoot someone in front of others. The senseless nature of the killing has left the family struggling to comprehend what happened.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help the family with funeral and burial expenses. Taylor was scheduled to be laid to rest Saturday at Donehoo-Lewis Funeral Home in Hapeville. The service will allow family, friends, teachers, and classmates to say goodbye to a young woman whose life was cut short just as she was beginning to pursue her dreams.
The case remains under investigation by Clayton County police. The suspect’s prosecution as an adult means the legal proceedings will be public, unlike juvenile cases which are typically sealed. His identity has been released by authorities due to the adult charges he faces.
For Nandi Hamilton and her family, the holidays will forever be marked by the loss of Taylor. The mother described her daughter as someone who spread love to everyone she encountered. That love could not protect her from violence on a day meant for gratitude and family.