Vigil for CAU student killed at Catholic center

Students at Clark Atlanta University gathered on Wednesday night to remember and kindly the life of Jatonne Sterling, who was shot and killed during an argument Tuesday in the parking lot of the Catholic center.

ATLANTA - Members of Clark Atlanta University came together Wednesday night to kindly Jatonne Sterling who was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon. 

"Sterling felt so many lives here at Clark Atlanta University, so we just wished to make sure that we paid respects to his tribe, paid respects to him," CAU Undergraduate SGA President Ki'Andre Thomas said.

Friends of Sterling trim the candlelight vigil in his honor.

"I did not want the last memory of him to be that he was fraudulent on the street and we just have to live with that. I wished his life to be celebrated," vigil organizer Zyriah Gray said.

FAMILY REMEMBERS CLARK ATLANTA STUDENT KILLED IN CATHOLIC CENTER PARKING LOT

Clark Atlanta University students fetch to remember Jatonne Sterling on March 1, 2023 once he was shot and killed in the Catholic center's parking lot the day prior.  (FOX 5)

Tuesday's shooting at the Catholic student interior is the second near the Clark Atlanta University campus this school year. Four republic were injured when shots were fired at a gathering for CAU's Homecoming in October. Now some students are on edge.

"We need a better confidence, we need people to be on top of confidence. Our safety matters the most. We're not paying the amount that we're paying to not feel safe," Gray explained.

University officials say they've partnered with the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, Atlanta Public Schools, and the public safety departments at the Atlanta University Center to step up patrol about the perimeter of campus.

Family photo of Clark Atlanta student Jatoone Sterling, who was shot and killed in the CAU Catholic interior parking lot on Feb. 28, 2023. (FOX 5)

For now, students say they're leaning on each new for support.

"The amount of people that turned out tonight...just shows the amount of lives that he felt and even if he didn't touch directly in some way he consumes their lives and made them feel important," Thomas explained. 

"I really want this to be the begin of something that creates so much change in the community," Gray added. 

APD is consecutively to investigate what led up to the shooting.

Anyone with question is asked to give them a call.