Family of woman killed in Buckhead nightclub faces suspected shooter in court

ATLANTA – A 21-year-old man charged in a fatal shooting that left two people dead and four others injured at a Buckhead nightclub last month must remain in jail after a judge postponed his bail hearing Tuesday morning.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause said she had concerns about moving forward with Karanji Reese’s bail hearing because his attorney was never notified of the hearing.

“Despite the efforts of my staff, I have been unable to find any evidence that Mr. Conner was informed that this hearing was scheduled to take place today,” she said. “I am concerned that I will violate due process if I compel Mr. Conner to appear in court today.”

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Krause added that while a justice of the peace has already denied Reese bail, a decision must be made by a superior court judge because he faces multiple charges, including murder and aggravated assault.

She postponed the bail hearing until July 2.

The hearing took place in a packed courtroom, where the grieving family and friends of 21-year-old Mari Creighton faced the man accused of killing their loved ones in person for the first time since his arrest.

“It was very hard to see him,” said Mari’s mother, Tracey Eason. “I’m grieving already and to see him and sit there and wait for so long, it’s just a lot of emotion for me.”

Many people showed up at court wearing Mari’s favorite color: pink.

“That’s what keeps me going,” she added. “Mari has so many people, family and friends who love her, and that’s what keeps us going.”

Channel 2 also spoke to Maris’ two sisters, who expressed the anger and sadness they felt as they sat just feet away from Reese.

“I’m honestly full of hate,” said Mari’s sister Tiffany Eason. “I just honestly hate him. I just hate what they did. I hate everyone involved in this because my sister had absolutely nothing to do with it.”

Eason said Michael Seiden from Channel 2 that her 22-year-old daughter was injured in the shooting but is expected to make a full recovery.

“It’s just upsetting to see him here and Mari not,” added Mari’s sister Telia Wheeler. “We just miss her and we’ll never stop.”

Reese has hired criminal defense attorney Malcolm Conner.

“We will not take this case to the media,” Conner said.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to the families affected by this senseless matter,” he said. “This is a very serious matter and multiple parties are involved. We don’t know if there were multiple shooters. We don’t know at this time.”

Atlanta police have neither confirmed nor denied whether they are looking for a second shooter, citing the ongoing investigation.

Reese, who turned himself in to police on June 5, is charged with murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

On May 12, Atlanta Police responded to multiple reports of shots fired at the Elleven45 Lounge on Peachtree Road.

The shooting killed Creighton, a volleyball player at Albany State University, and 20-year-old Nakyris Ridley, who police said was the intended target.

Creighton’s niece, Taylor Holmes, 22, was one of four gunshot victims who survived the mass shooting.

Earlier this month, she spoke exclusively with Seiden about the incident and her recovery.

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“I’m fine,” she said. “I just started therapy, so things are moving forward.”

“That was my best friend,” she added. “I just hate that she’s not here to experience life anymore. She lit up the room wherever she went. She was just a sweet soul.”

Since the deadly mass shooting, the nightclub has faced four lawsuits.

The owners also face a lawsuit from the city of Atlanta, which seeks to permanently close the nightclub.

The club’s registered agent, Djibril Dafe, agreed to a 60-day closure of the club while he prepared for an evidentiary hearing.

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