On the eighth anniversary of her death, the Statesboro Police Department says the investigation into the murder of Akeila Rochelle Martin is still open and ongoing.
Akeila was shot and killed while in the parking lot of the Platinum Lounge on August 19, 2012 just before 3:00 a.m.
Officers with the Statesboro Police Department were on foot and vehicle patrol when they heard multiple gun shots. Multiple officers responded to the scene to find a large crowd of 200 to 300 people in the parking lot. Officers located two shooting victims – Sadondra Brianna Scarboro and Akeila Rochelle Martin. Scarboro was transported to the hospital and treated for her injuries. According to a news release from SPD, the scene of the shooting was secured by officers and Detective Keith Holloway. A number of people were interviewed at the scene, a report was taken, and the case was turned over to the investigations division.
This week, SPD said the case “has been continuously worked on” since the murder of Akeila Martin. A reward is still being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the offender.
Akeila’s mother, Barbara Hightower, provided SPD with a statement for release last week as well:
“To all the people on the outside, I am a mom with a caring heart that lost a big part of my life. I lost my youngest daughter to someone with no heart at all. I want you to put yourself in my shoes of loving someone who had a kind heart and would have done anything for anyone. She was a sweet young lady and someone took her from her five kids. Her kids ask me every day what happened to their Momma. Till this day, I still don’t know how to tell them what happened to her.
To all the mothers and other people that saw what happened that morning, please have a heart and tell what you saw. Put yourself in my shoes, to lose an important person that you bring into the world. I cry day and night knowing that I will never see my daughter again. There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t miss her. Her sister, brothers, and her kids miss her very much. We all miss her. Please have a heart and tell the truth about what happened to my daughter, Akeila Roschell Martin. She didn’t deserve to die.”
Anyone with information concerning this case is asked to contact Detective Keith Holloway at the Statesboro Police Department at 912-764-9911. Tips may be submitted anonymously via tips@statesboroga.gov. All information is strictly confidential.
