A Georgia inmate who shot and killed a kitchen worker had a “personal relationship” with the young mother.
Jaydrekus Hart shot Aureon Grace, 24, before turning the gun on himself inside the prison on June 16.
The murder-suicide happened at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, officials said.
Hart, 34, was serving a 20-year sentence at Smith State Prison for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated battery.
Officials believe the gun was smuggled into the prison by an employee or contract worker.
“The weapon is in GDC custody at this time, and a complete and thorough investigation of what led up to this tragic incident will be carried out,” the Georgia Department of Corrections told the Washington Examiner.
Grace, a cook who worked for the food service company Aramark, died in the prison cafeteria.
“We are heartbroken over the loss of our colleague and our hearts and prayers go out to her family,” Aramark spokeswoman Debbie Albert told the Washington Examiner.
Grace’s mother, Deshonda Hagins, posted on social media that she learned of her daughter’s death in a phone call from inmates.
“The inmates were going through her social media and trying to find someone related to her,” Hagins said, according to Fox5.
Hagins told WOTC News the prison didn’t do enough to protect Grace.
Prison officials said Grace was in a personal relationship with the inmate.
“What does that have to do with having a gun to kill my child?” Hagins asked.
“They failed her. You failed her. My child is dead and it’s no explanation for a firearm to be inside of a prison.”
“Why didn’t they search him when he left his dorm, why didn’t they search him before he came into the cafeteria? Why was none of those things done?” she added.
Hagins said Grace left behind a four-year-old daughter and one-year-old son.
“She was a sister, she was a daughter, she was a mother. She was loved,” Hagins told the outlet.
