A 17-year-old boy was tragically killed late Thursday night after a bullet fired from a neighboring motel room passed through a wall and struck him while he was playing video games, authorities in Gwinnett County said. The shocking incident happened at the Live In Lodge Extended Stay on Stone Mountain Highway, leaving residents shaken and a family grieving an unthinkable loss.
Police identified the victim as Sheldon Lewis, 17. Officers were called to the motel around 11 p.m. and responded to Room 216, where they found the teenager suffering from a gunshot wound. Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said he was lying on his bed and playing video games when the bullet struck him, making the tragedy sudden and unexpected.
According to police, the bullet came from Room 225, which shares a wall with Lewis’ room. Investigators said 31-year-old Shermarcus Cockran, of Lilburn, was inside that room cleaning his firearm after returning from a gun range. During the process, the gun discharged, and the bullet traveled through the shared wall and into the next room, striking the teen.
Cockran told detectives the shooting was accidental, police said. Despite that claim, authorities said the careless handling of the firearm led to a deadly outcome. Cockran has been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct. He remains in custody and is waiting for his first court appearance.
Crime scene investigators were at the Snellville-area motel Friday morning, processing evidence and examining both rooms involved in the shooting. Residents watched as police worked behind yellow tape, trying to understand how a normal night turned into a tragedy. One resident described the moment with disbelief, saying, “They were just playing a video game, and a bullet just come through the wall.”
Police have not released details about the type of firearm involved or how long Cockran had been staying at the motel. The investigation is ongoing. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Gwinnett County Police detectives at (770) 513-5300 as they continue to piece together what happened.
