Two men have been sentenced to life in prison for their involvement in the murder of a transgender woman, while one remains at large after failing to appear in court. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Nora Polk sentenced JaQuan Brooks, 25, to life with the possibility of parole, plus five years on probation. Davonte Fore, 26, was absent from the sentencing hearing but received a sentence of life with the possibility of parole and an additional 15 years in confinement.
On October 4, jurors found both Brooks and Fore guilty of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. These charges stem from the shooting death of Skyler Gilmore on June 4, 2021.
Fore attended only the first two days of his trial last month and has not been seen since October 1. Despite opposition from the state, he was out on bond pending trial. Following his conviction, Judge Polk revoked his bond and issued a bench warrant for his arrest. He is now considered a fugitive from justice. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit is asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact them at 404-298-8132.
Brooks was taken into custody immediately following the guilty verdicts. District Attorney Sherry Boston commented on the case: “While we are proud of the work of our team to secure convictions in this case, we know justice will not truly be served until Davonte Fore is in custody,” she said. “We encourage anyone with information to come forward.”
The investigation began when officers from the DeKalb County Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at an apartment complex in Stone Mountain just before 2 a.m., where they found Gilmore unresponsive with a gunshot wound to her torso.
A friend who had been speaking with Gilmore before she was shot called police after rushing to her apartment upon learning about the incident. This friend informed investigators that Gilmore identified as a transgender woman involved in survival sex—a form of prostitution for basic necessities like food or shelter.
Data retrieved from Gilmore’s cell phone revealed communication between her and Fore shortly before her death; surveillance footage captured both Brooks and Fore entering Gilmore's apartment complex together earlier that night.
Detectives discovered that Brooks and Fore were members of a local gang ordered to kill Gilmore after learning about her association with another gang member.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Friedman prosecuted this case alongside Senior Assistant District Attorney Kelsey Devitto; District Attorney Investigators Curtis Averhart, A. Zachary and Christopher Usiak; Victim Advocate Millicent Taylor; all supported by Det. Redrick who led initial investigations within DeKalb County Police Department's Homicide & Gangs Unit.