Collins Hill Grad, Star Athlete Shot And Killed In Knoxville

DACULA, GA — Jaquan Reece, a wrestling and football standout at Collins Hill High School, was shot and killed Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tennessee.

WBIR-TV in Knoxville reports that Reece, 19, drove himself to the University of Tennessee Medical Center at about 2 p.m. after he was shot. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

“He was a great kid with a huge smile. He was always happy,” former Collins Hill wrestling coach Nate Ethridge said to The Gwinnett Daily Post.

Reece, who graduated from Collins Hill in 2019, had moved to Knoxville and was enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves, according to the Gwinnett newspaper. He was both a state qualifier in wrestling and a two-year starter for the football team, where he made 61 tackles and two interceptions as a senior.

“Jaquan was a great player for us,” Collins Hill head coach Lenny Gregory told the Post. “The teachers loved him. The kids loved him. He was smart. I’m so shocked because he’s such a good kid.”

Knoxville Police Department investigators say they believe the shooting took place near Sunset Avenue and South Castle Street in East Knoxville. They’re seeking a dark-colored sedan, which they say is a vehicle of interest in the shooting.