College Baseball Player Fatally Shot In Targeted Attack

Atlanta, GA – A college baseball player in Georgia was found fatally shot near campus on Tuesday afternoon and police believe it wasn’t a random attack.

Atlanta police responded to a 911 call at about 1:45 p.m. on Feb. 28 in the parking lot of the Lyke House Catholic Center off Beckwith Street, next to a student housing complex, WXIA reported.

Officers found 20-year-old Jatonne Sterling unconscious and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, The Telegraph reported.

“The male was not alert, conscious, or breathing and was pronounced deceased on the scene,” the Atlanta Police Department (APD) said in a press release. “Investigators with the Homicide Unit responded to the scene to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

#Breaking
Shooting incident involving Clark Atlanta University (CAU) student claims the life of sophomore baseball player Jatonne Sterling.
The Atlanta Police Department continues to investigate the incident. Anyone with information should call (404) 546-4235.@ATLNewsFirst pic.twitter.com/XAXS1FdvDj

— shon gables (@shongables) March 1, 2023

Atlanta Police Lieutenant Germain Dearlove, the commander of the department’s Homicide Unit, told WAGA that the shooting did not appear to be random.

“We believe this was an incident, possibly an escalated dispute, between he and an acquaintance,” Lt. Dearlove said. “So, it’s not going to be random, it seems to be targeted.”

Sterling, a native of Chicago, was a sophomore at Clark Atlanta University (CAU) and a member of the baseball team, The Telegraph reported.

He signed with the CAU Panthers as a utility player and was “willing to do whatever to help the team,” according to an Instagram post in 2021 announcing his recruitment.

Sucks! 😢🙏🏻 RIP💔#jatonnesterling
Atlanta Police have confirmed a 20-year-old man was shot and killed near the Lyke House Catholic Newman Center at the Atlanta University Center Consortium. Clark Atlanta University said the victim was a sophomore baseball player from Chicago. pic.twitter.com/HSMkHkEhCJ

— Victoria💛👙HELLO TROLL- I’m still GREAT👸🏼👑💅🏻 (@UGAGurl72) March 1, 2023

The CAU Athletics Department confirmed the player’s death on social media, WXIA reported.

“Clark Atlanta Athletics send its condolences to Jatonne Sterling’s family and friends. Gone too soon. Please keep Jatonne’s family in your prayers,” the post read.

Police do not have a suspect in custody and the investigation is ongoing, WXIA reported.