Teen Sentenced to Life for Fatal Shooting of 16-year-old Outside Lithonia IHOP

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — An 18-year-old from Stockbridge has been sentenced to life in prison for the fatal shooting of another teen outside an IHOP restaurant in Lithonia.

On June 20, 2025, a DeKalb County jury found Jakari Naki Childs guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Possession of a Pistol or Revolver by a Person Under 18 Years Old. The charges stem from the July 15, 2023, shooting death of 16-year-old Jacob Johnson.

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Stacey K. Hydrick sentenced Childs to life with the possibility of parole, plus an additional six years to be served consecutively.

According to the investigation, officers responded to a report of a shooting just before noon at the IHOP located at 3020 Panola Road. Upon arrival, they found Johnson lying outside the restaurant’s entrance with a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A witness, who was also an employee and Childs’ former girlfriend, told police that Childs arrived unexpectedly at the restaurant looking for her. Johnson, her best friend and coworker, alerted her to Childs’ presence. When she went outside to ask Childs to leave, Childs shot Johnson, who was standing beside her.

The case was prosecuted by the DeKalb County District Attorney’s SB 440 Unit. The investigation was led by Detective V.T. Redrick of the DeKalb County Police Department.