PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. – A community in Paulding County is preparing to commemorate the life of an 11-year-old boy tragically killed in a shooting at his home in April. Zander Whatley’s family will hold a balloon release to honor what would have been his 12th birthday, ahead of his funeral on Saturday.
The balloon release is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Rockmart High School, following the first day of public viewing at the school’s gymnasium. Whatley’s celebration of life service will then take place at the gymnasium the following day at 2 p.m.
On the night of April 29, tragedy struck when Shareeda Alexander Dorsey, her husband, and nine of their 13 children were at home in the Smallwood Farms subdivision. Gunshots rang out after banging on the back door, leading to Whatley being struck by a bullet as he tried to run upstairs.
Despite efforts by medics to save him, Whatley succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. Authorities are still searching for the shooter, with the family suspecting a possible motive related to one of the boy’s older siblings.
The grieving family remembers Whatley as a joyful fifth-grader at Hutchens Elementary School who had a passion for attending class and singing. Described as a loving and happy child with a strong faith, Whatley’s untimely death has left a community in mourning.
As the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation continue to investigate the shooting, they are urging anyone with information to come forward anonymously through the Paulding Sheriff’s Office tip line at 770-443-3047 or via its mobile app.
The tragic loss of Zander Whatley has left a lasting impact on his community, as they come together to remember and honor his life cut short by senseless violence.