ATLANTA — Authorities in Atlanta are investigating the recent death of Sammy Jackson, a former basketball coach at two universities in Georgia, as a homicide. Jackson’s body was discovered shortly after his family reported him missing, leading to the ongoing investigation.
The former coach, who had a significant career, was found deceased on Wednesday in a wooded area in northwest Atlanta, showing signs of apparent gunshot wounds, according to local police reports. Jackson previously served as the head men’s basketball coach at both Fort Valley State University and Savannah State University.
His family had notified the Peach County sheriff’s office in central Georgia about his disappearance. Reports indicate that his wife last had contact with him on Sunday evening when he was preparing to begin work with a food delivery service. Furthermore, Jackson was known to be a rideshare driver at the time.
On Monday, authorities discovered Jackson’s deserted vehicle in Houston County, which is located approximately 110 miles (around 177 kilometers) south of Atlanta. In a subsequent update, the Atlanta Police Department announced that a man who had ordered a ride in Houston County shortly before Jackson went missing has been identified as a person of interest in the case. This individual is currently incarcerated in the Houston County Jail on unrelated robbery charges.
Sammy Jackson held the position of head men’s basketball coach at Fort Valley State from 2011 until 2018, and he was previously the coach at Savannah State for the 1999-2000 season. His extensive coaching resume also includes assistant positions at notable institutions such as the University of Alabama, Georgia Southern University, Alabama A&M University, and Tennessee State University, as highlighted in a release from Fort Valley State in 2011.
In the wake of his passing, numerous tributes have emerged on social media from friends, former players, and colleagues, who remember him as a compassionate individual who made a positive impact on many lives. One former assistant coach, Kareem Kenney, expressed the collective desire for clarity and justice regarding Jackson’s death, stating, “I think everybody would like some answers and wants justice for Sammy.”
