A Georgia woman was tragically shot and killed by her husband just one day before her 57th birthday and the grand opening of her new business, according to authorities and family members. Police were called to a home in Douglasville on October 4 after reports of a “domestic incident,” the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said in a statement.
When officers arrived, they found a woman lying in the yard with severe injuries and a man standing nearby. The suspect, identified as 51-year-old Volanta Lejuan Walker, was armed with a gun and refused police commands to drop his weapon, officials said. When Walker pointed the gun at officers, one of them fired, striking and injuring him.
Investigators later confirmed that Walker’s wife, 56-year-old Sabrina Walker, had died at the scene from gunshot wounds. Some family members referred to her by her maiden name, Sabrina Willis. According to investigators, the couple had been married for less than a year and were arguing before the shooting occurred.
“An investigation revealed that the couple was in a fight when Volanta Walker chased his wife outside before shooting and killing her,” the GBI said. Family members told WAGA-TV that October 5—the day after her death—would have been Sabrina’s birthday and the grand opening of her new salon, The Groomsmen of Atlanta Barbershop.
Despite their grief, her daughters chose to carry out her dream by opening the business as planned. “This really helps keep us going today because this was a really tough, tough day for us,” her daughter Shabrecka Polk told the outlet. “This is what my mom would’ve wanted.” Another daughter, Anesha Nixon, said it was important to honor their mother’s hard work and dedication.
“She put her blood, sweat, and tears into it,” Nixon said. Family and friends remembered Sabrina as a loving mother of three and grandmother of one who brought joy and laughter to everyone around her. “She will be missed,” her aunt, Tajuana Tee, wrote on Facebook. “When I tell you she was silly and fun to be around—never a dull moment with her or the girls.”
The tragic shooting shocked the Douglasville community, located about 20 miles west of Atlanta. Police said Walker remains hospitalized under guard and will face charges in connection with his wife’s killing once released. For Sabrina’s family, what was meant to be a weekend of celebration turned into one of unimaginable loss. Still, they say keeping her dream alive has given them strength through their heartbreak.