A shocking domestic violence case in Clarkston has ended with a jury convicting a 30-year-old woman of malice murder after she shot and killed her ex-boyfriend inside an apartment while children were present.
The verdict was delivered Tuesday in DeKalb County, where jurors found J’ana Rawat guilty on multiple charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, family violence, cruelty to children in the third degree, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The conviction stems from the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Tyler James Reed in May 2022.
Late-Night Shooting Inside Apartment
The incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. on May 20, 2022, at an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Oak Drive in Clarkston.
Police responded to reports of gunfire and arrived to find the apartment door open. Rawat reportedly came downstairs and directed officers to the kitchen. Authorities detained her at the scene and recovered a handgun from her jacket pocket.
Inside the kitchen, officers discovered Reed lying face down on the floor. Emergency responders attempted CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Argument Escalated Into Deadly Violence
During the investigation, Rawat waived her Miranda rights and spoke to officers. She told police she had left her three children at the apartment with Reed — who was the father of one of the children — while she went out with a friend.
When she returned roughly an hour later, Rawat claimed she had difficulty unlocking the door and believed the lock had been tampered with, triggering an argument between the two.
Authorities said Reed was seated at the kitchen table with one of the children as the dispute continued. Rawat allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and pointed it at him, claiming he had been violent toward her in the past.
Prosecutors said she then went upstairs, retrieved a firearm and another child, and returned to the kitchen where Reed remained seated. According to courtroom testimony, Reed told her he was not afraid.
Rawat then fired two shots, killing him in front of the children.
Self-Defense Argument Rejected
Defense attorneys argued that Rawat acted in self-defense, citing prior alleged violence in the relationship. However, prosecutors presented evidence they said demonstrated Reed was not posing an immediate threat at the time of the shooting.
After deliberation, the jury rejected the self-defense claim and returned guilty verdicts on all major charges.
Sentencing Ahead
A sentencing hearing is expected to be scheduled within the next 45 days by DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Asha F. Jackson.
The case was handled by the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit, with the investigation led by the Clarkston Police Department.
The conviction closes a tragic chapter in a case that unfolded in front of children and deeply impacted the Clarkston community.
