WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | School, community shocked by Alma teen's death

School, community shocked by Alma teen's death

By Dal Cannady bio | email

ALMA, GA (WTOC) - Classmates at Bacon County High remained in shock Tuesday. They can't believe anyone here could be murdered, certainly not sophomore Jasmine Moore.

"She always wanted to be there, in the group, she loved having friends and she was a great friend too," explained Amber Perryman. She got the horrific news at her church Sunday.

"Our pastor urged everyone to pray for the family of the teenage girl killed overnight," she noted. "When he said the name, I just lost it and had to leave the service."

"She was just the kind of person who always had a smile and always wanted to make people laugh," added Cristen McClellan.

Moore and her mom lived across the street from the high school gym on 4th Street. Her mom came home from working a night shift Sunday to find her.

Police aren't saying how she died but they're calling her death a homicide. Most of the school knew before the new year began Monday. Teachers said, from clubs and everything else, she was a bundle of enthusiasm about everything.

"She would come and work on her lunch hour and just come by and ask if there's anything she can do for you, she was kind, she was helpful," noted teacher Pam Mosley, who advised the FCCLA club in which Jasmine was a member.

Teachers said the first day of school buzz helped distract many from the sorrow and the reality of the situation, that someone in this close knit community took an innocent child's life.

"You think you're safe here," added high school counselor Amy Burkett. She taught Jasmine in elementary school as well as her mother. "Right here by the school, across the road from the football field, something like this happens."

"We don't think about it. People don't lock their doors here. It's strange but that's how it is. You don't think that someone you know or knew is capable of that," Mosley added.

The death is the city's first homicide since 2001. Police and GBI agents are following several leads. Anyone with information in the case is asked to call Alma Police Capt. John Murray at 912.632.4311.

©2009 WTOC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.