ATLANTA – A former Georgia HBCU basketball coach who went missing earlier this week was found dead in northwest Atlanta.

Homicide detectives with the Atlanta Police Department are investigating the death of 59-year-old Samuel Jackson.

Missing coach found dead in Atlanta

What we know:

Jackson, the former head basketball coach at Fort Valley State, was reported missing by his wife on Monday.

According to WXGA, Jill Jackson last spoke to her husband on Sunday night as he was preparing to start his job as an Uber Eats driver.

Deputies reportedly found Jackson’s BMW at an apartment complex in Bonaire, Georgia. According to the investigation report, the car was unlocked and things had been “scattered over the seat and floor.” Jackson was nowhere to be found.

Desmond Jackson, the missing man’s son, told WGXA that he was able to use technology to track his dad to Atlanta. 

“His phone pinged in Atlanta, [law enforcement] weren’t able to give exact details,” he said. “Since then, I was able to get into his Gmail just to pull up his location history and it shows his phone; his Gmail, or his phone was there off Bolton Road.” 

On Wednesday, the Atlanta Police Department said that it was asked by the Houston County Sheriff’s Office to look into the possibility that Jackson was near the 2900 block of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway.

After canvassing the area, officers found a man who had been shot multiple times. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to WGXA that Jackson was the victim.

What we don’t know:

Details about Jackson’s disappearance and death remain limited, and authorities are trying to trace how the missing man went from Peach County to Atlanta.

“Homicide detectives will be working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the Atlanta Police Department wrote in their release.

What you can do:

 The investigation is ongoing.

If you have any information that could help detectives, contact the Atlanta Police Department.

College football season ended a week-and-a-half ago when Ohio State beat Notre Dame in the National Championship game, but the recruiting stove is red hot across the sport.

In the SEC, Georgia landed a commitment from big-time safety Zech Fort of IMG Academy in Florida on Thursday. How did it impact the recruiting rankings across the SEC?

247Sports updated its composite team rankings following the commitment and five SEC programs checked in the top 10 nationally while three more ranked within the top 20.

Despite a woeful 2024 season that saw just a 2-10 overall record and winless SEC campaign, Mississippi State still ranks ahead of four other SEC teams.

Here is what the SEC team recruiting rankings look like as of January 30, 2025. Clearly there is a lot of time for movement to be made as we’re 11 months from the early signing period, but the foundation for recruiting classes is clearly being built.

No. 16: Kentucky (0 nationally)

Kentucky is the only team in the SEC that is yet to receive a public verbal commitment in the 2026 recruiting cycle.

15. Vanderbilt (54th nationally)

Vanderbilt Football:
1 commitment
87.26 average player rating
17.26 team points

14. Missouri (51st nationally)

Missouri Football:
1 commitment
89.58 average player rating
19.58 team points

13. Alabama (49th nationally)

Alabama Football:
1 commitment
95.05 average player rating
25.05 team points

12. Mississippi State (42 nationally)

Mississippi State Football:
4 commitments
87.07 average player rating
34.05 team points

11. Ole Miss (38th nationally)

Ole Miss Football:
2 commitments
86.66 average player rating
37.21 team points

10. Texas (33rd nationally)

Texas Football:
2 commitments
95.35 average player rating
50.55 team points

9. Florida (28th nationally)

Florida Football:
3 commitments
90.63 average player rating
61.32 team points

8. Oklahoma (19th nationally)

Oklahoma Football:
4 commitments
91.32 average player rating
83.65 team points

7. South Carolina (14th nationally)

South Carolina Football:
5 commitments
89.93 average player rating
96.70 team points

6. Georgia (12th nationally)

Georgia Football:
5 commitments
92.03 average player rating
106.71 team points

5. Arkansas (9th nationally)

Arkansas Football:
9 commitments
87.96 average player rating
117.09 team points

4. LSU (8th nationally)

LSU Football:
6 commitments
91.63 average player rating
123.91 team points

3. Auburn (7th nationally)

Auburn Football:
6 commitments
93.11 average player rating
132.21 team points

2. Tennessee (6th nationally)

Tennessee Football:
7 commitments
90.7 average player rating
135.95 team points

1. Texas A&M (2nd nationally)

Texas A&M Football:
10 commitments
92.2 average player rating
192 team points

LITHONIA, Ga. – A 24-year-old Georgia man has been arrested in connection to a large-scale fraud scheme targeting victims in Texas. 

What we know:

Ke-Juan D’Shon Studdard, a 24-year-old from Lithonia, has been arrested in connection with a large-scale fraud scheme targeting victims in Texas. Law enforcement officials from the Lithonia Police Department, Snellville Police Department, and the Collin County Sheriff’s Office in Texas collaborated to track and apprehend Studdard.

Studdard is accused of using fraudulent bank schemes to steal funds through multiple financial institutions, including Cash App, Wells Fargo, and Chase Bank. He has been charged with:

• Breach of Computer Security – Identifying Information from Computer/PC (Second Degree Felony)
• Online Impersonation (Third Degree Felony)
• Felony Theft

Authorities located Studdard after tracking him for several hours across metro Atlanta. He was ultimately arrested in a Walmart parking lot in Snellville, where officers from Snellville PD, Lithonia PD, and a Collin County Sheriff’s investigator apprehended him. Studdard will be extradited to Texas to face the charges.

What they’re saying:

Lithonia Police Chief Dejarnette emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation in making the arrest.

Why you should care:

Fraudulent financial schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread, putting individuals’ bank accounts and personal information at risk. Authorities warn residents to remain vigilant against scams involving unexpected calls, emails, or text messages requesting sensitive details.

What you can do:

Law enforcement officials urge the public to take precautions to protect themselves from financial fraud:

• Never share personal information unless you verify the sender’s identity.
• Hang up immediately if you receive an unexpected call requesting sensitive details.
• Contact banks or institutions directly using official phone numbers—not the one provided in the suspicious message.
• Monitor financial accounts regularly for any unauthorized transactions.

What’s next:

As the investigation continues, police are working to determine whether additional suspects are involved in the scheme. Authorities encourage anyone with relevant information to come forward.