16-year-old football player shot, killed in Brunswick not intended target, family says

BRUNSWICK, Ga. – A Georgia community is outraged after a Brunswick High School football player was murdered in front of his home.

Brunswick police are now searching for the person who shot and killed My’kal Ellis, 16, on Johnston Street on Tuesday night.

Ellis’s family and the police said they believe Ellis was not the intended target. Neighbors said Ellis was the third person shot on the same block within the past several days.

An aunt Ellis’ who asked that we not identify her by name or show her face as a safety precaution said her nephew was an honor student. She said he loved basketball and football.

“He was just coming home from football practice, so he didn’t have a reason to be on the lookout for anything,” she said.

Ellis was just feet from his home when gunfire erupted. Ellis was hit. His family believes this was a case of mistaken identity because they say he didn’t have any enemies and he was known to be on the straight and narrow.

“He was an honorable student and an honorable athlete at Brunswick High School. There’s not anything bad that someone can say about him,” his aunt said.

Witnesses said Ellis’s mother heard the gunshots, ran outside and did everything humanly possible to prevent her son from dying until paramedics arrived.

“She was trying to help revive him but was unable to,” his aunt said.

A neighbor’s car was hit by a stray bullet during the shooting. The bullet ripped through the passenger door.

Neighbors said days prior to Ellis being shot and killed, two men in their 30s were also shot on this same block. One of the men was taken to the hospital in critical condition. On Wednesday, Brunswick police were back in the area canvasing the neighborhood for more clues into the identity of the shooter that killed Ellis.

Brunswick Assistant Police Chief Angela Smith said the city has experienced a recent spike in shootings.

“Some have been related and others have been isolated,” Smith said.

A neighbor said it has to stop.

“It’s like every other day you’re hearing gunshots,” they said.

“It’s getting to the point where it’s ridiculous. You can’t even go to work without worrying about getting a phone call,” Ellis’ aunt said.

Smith is urging anyone with information about what happened to contact the police.

She said if you have information, let the police handle the shooter instead of taking matters into your own hands.

Those with any information are urged to contact Det. Anthony Trollinger at (912) 279-2640 or Silent Witness at (912) 267-5516.