ATLANTA — The family of 25-year-old Jotavious "Joe" Favors is mourning the loss of the young father who was shot and killed in front of his children last week.
The shooting happened on the night of Nov. 15 at a Chevron gas station on Campbellton Road, according to the Atlanta Police Department. Investigators said Jotavious was shot multiple times.
Loved ones said it happened in a matter of minutes while he was with his six-month-old, 1-year-old and girlfriend.
"It was a very traumatic experience for us. We watched him lay there," his girlfriend Shontiana Craig, said. "He was the center of attention. He was the one everybody wanted to see. He was the one that made everybody laugh. He was special."
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Now, on Thanksgiving, his family said the young father made a big impact and they need help to give him the homecoming service he deserves.
“He was my everything. He was my only friend,” Ariana Favors said.
The young father worked in the service industry as a restaurant worker and was looking forward to raising his two young sons.
“He actually told me, 'It's time for me to be a man now. I’m going to be a man for my boys.' And it's like, it ended so soon,” Ariana said.
A day after the shooting, they released surveillance video of two people they were looking for in connection to the shooting.
Ariana said she can’t rest until whoever killed her brother is brought to justice.
“I just know that they are able to eat Thanksgiving and have a peaceful Thanksgiving while I’d rather not eat. I’d rather not do anything just because of the fact I don’t have my brother here,” she said.
Favors’ family has launched an online fundraiser to help raise money for funeral expenses and to help his children. Jotavious' homegoing service is planned for next weekend.