Tallassee police are investigating a fatal shooting that took place Saturday night in the city, with the victim now officially identified as Ronderius Hooks of Tallassee.
Officers responded to a call on the 200 block of Gilmer Avenue, where they found Hooks suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite efforts to help him, Hooks did not survive.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have released limited information as they work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Hooks, a graduate of Tallassee High School class of 2010, was from the Tallassee area and had ties to Montgomery, Alabama.
He was known and loved by many in the community, as evidenced by the wave of grief and tributes that poured across social media in the hours following news of his passing.
Community Reacts With Grief and Calls for Justice
Before the police made an official announcement, family members had already begun sharing the news online. His cousin Donielle Y. Smith was among the first to publicly confirm the loss, writing that her aunt had officially announced his passing.
She asked the community to keep the Hooks and Skipper families in prayer and called on God for justice.
Friends and relatives flooded posts with condolences, prayers, and memories. Michael L. Martin wrote that the news truly set him back when he received the call and expressed his condolences to the family.
Another relative, Anitra Sanford, shared old photos of Hooks with family members, saying she was deeply hurt by the loss of her nephew.
The outpouring reflected how deeply Hooks was embedded in the lives of people around him. Commenters from across the community left messages asking for peace, love, and justice for his family, with many tagging the posts with the call to pray for Tallassee.
A Life Known in Tallassee
Ronderius Hooks was a Tallassee native who attended Tallassee High School and graduated with the class of 2010. Those who knew him remembered him as someone who brought people together.
The personal tributes shared online painted the picture of a man who had lasting friendships and deep family bonds stretching across the community.
His Facebook profile showed connections to Montgomery as well as Tallassee, with hundreds of followers and people who considered him a close part of their lives. Friends like Martin, who referenced the EAP community in his tribute, spoke to the wide circle of people who will feel his absence.
The circumstances that led to the shooting on Gilmer Avenue have not been publicly detailed by investigators.
Tallassee police have confirmed the death and identified the victim, but have not yet announced any arrests or named suspects. The case is described as actively under investigation.
Community members continue to ask for accountability, with several posts echoing the call for justice that his cousin Donielle expressed in her initial announcement of his death.
The hashtag calling for people to pray for Tallassee circulated alongside the tributes, reflecting broader concerns about safety in the city.
Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to contact the Tallassee police. This remains a developing story as investigators work to piece together what happened on Gilmer Avenue that Saturday night.
