Contested death (2000 to present)

Omari Bryant

Ruled suicide, disputedDec 5, 2020 · Age 18 · Homerville, GA

Who Omari was

Omari Zachias-Shaquan Bryant was 18, one day away from his 19th birthday, when he died in Homerville, Georgia, on December 5, 2020. He attended Clinch County High School, and friends who grew up with him were among the first to speak up for him.

A relative who organized the family's fundraiser calls him a "brilliant, handsome, eccentric" young man who was intelligent, brave and calm, with a bright future ahead of him. The family remembers his loyalty, kindness, honesty and perseverance, and says people were drawn to him.

Portrait of Omari Bryant — Courtesy of Davis Bozeman Johnson Law, attorneys for the Bryant family · where it was shared

In the words of those who knew them

“Omari was beyond intelligent, he surpassed any definition of brave, and he had a calming spirit.”Deajsha Minard, family member, on the family's fundraiser · source
“Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him was forever changed after 1 conversation.”Deajsha Minard, family member, on the family's fundraiser · source

What happened

Omari Bryant, 18, was found early on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, a day before his 19th birthday, outside the Southern Pines Inn in Homerville, Georgia. Police were called around 7:19 a.m. and officers found him at the motel; news reports don't say who first saw him. Homerville Police Capt. Derrek Manning said police weren't suspecting foul play until autopsy results came back, while the city attorney told WCTV it hadn't been determined whether the death was a suicide or a homicide. Motel management told WCTV that none of its six surveillance cameras were working at the time.

On Dec. 8, Homerville police said a Georgia Bureau of Investigation medical examiner had ruled the death a suicide and found no evidence of foul play. Police said they were waiting on toxicology results and would then send the case file to the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office and the GBI for review.

Classmates from Clinch County High School told WCTV they didn't believe he took his own life, and residents rallied under "Justice for Omari" with a candlelight vigil at the motel. On a family fundraiser, a relative wrote that authorities ruled the death a suicide within 30 minutes of the discovery. The family retained Davis Bozeman Johnson Law and The Girley Law Firm, and attorney Francys Johnson called for an independent GBI investigation into what he called a "suspicious death." No result of the district attorney's review has been reported, and the suicide ruling stands.

The case

Where found: Outside a motel
Official finding: Suicide (GBI medical examiner; Homerville Police announced the official ruling Jan 25, 2021 after receiving final autopsy results)
Time to finding: Preliminary ruling in 3 days; official ruling about 7 weeks after discovery
Investigation: Homerville Police led the case; the GBI performed the autopsy. Initially treated as suspicious. Police planned to send the file to the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney and the GBI for review.
Family position: The family disputes the ruling and says authorities called it a suicide within 30 minutes of the discovery. They retained Davis Bozeman Johnson Law and The Girley Law Firm, whose attorneys called for an independent GBI investigation.
Public evidence: Motel management said its surveillance cameras weren't working at the time (WCTV).
Federal review: None reported
Last verified: 2026-10-18

Verification note: WCTV gives his age as 18 in the story and 19 in a photo caption; WALB and NewsOne say 18. No family member is quoted directly; the family position comes from NewsOne and the family attorney. If a direct family statement is required for disputed, status would be ruled.

Sources

Record history

Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Record updated
- What happened updated
- What happened sources updated
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Record updated
- Life updated
- Remembered updated
- Life sources updated
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Record updated
- Official finding: Suicide (GBI medical examiner; Homerville Police announced the official ruling Jan 25, 2021 after receiving final autopsy results)
- Time to finding: Preliminary ruling in 3 days; official ruling about 7 weeks after discovery
- Family position: The family disputes the ruling and says authorities called it a suicide within 30 minutes of the discovery. They retained Davis Bozeman Johnson Law and The Girley Law Firm, whose attorneys called for an independent GBI investigation.
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Portrait added (Courtesy of Davis Bozeman Johnson Law, attorneys for the Bryant family)
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Case added
- Name: Omari Bryant
- Age: 18
- Date found: 2020-12-05
- City or county: Homerville
- State: GA
- Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
- Where found: Outside a motel
- Official finding: Suicide (GBI medical examiner, per WALB, Dec 8, 2020). Toxicology pending at the time.
- Time to finding: About 3 days
- Investigation: Homerville Police led the case; the GBI performed the autopsy. Initially treated as suspicious. Police planned to send the file to the Alapaha Judicial Circuit District Attorney and the GBI for review.
- Family position: NewsOne reported the family maintained he wasn't suicidal. Family attorney Francys Johnson called for an independent investigation.
- Public evidence: Motel management said its surveillance cameras weren't working at the time (WCTV).
- Federal review: None reported
- Verification note: WCTV gives his age as 18 in the story and 19 in a photo caption; WALB and NewsOne say 18. No family member is quoted directly; the family position comes from NewsOne and the family attorney. If a direct family statement is required for disputed, status would be ruled.
- Sources updated