Police searching for masked men who killed teen on New Year's Eve

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Police are searching for three masked men who robbed, then killed a teenager who was at the park with her friends on New Year’s Eve.

The victim was identified as Cherish Williams, 18, a senior at Mundy’s Mill High School.

Williams’ friends picked her up from her Fayetteville home after dinner on Saturday.

Friends said they were listening to music at Independence Park in Clayton County when three masked men with guns approached them.

“One put a gun to her friend’s head. One put a gun to my baby,” said Robin Reid, Williams’ mother.

Reid said when the music stopped because the song was changing, the robbers thought her daughter was calling police and they shot her.

“The phone went off because the music flipped and they shot her,” Reid said.

Friends attempted to take Williams to the hospital, but stopped and were assisted by EMS, police said.

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She later died at the hospital.

Reid said the group had given the men money and there was no reason for her daughter to be shot.

“Y’all took a life for no reason. For 50 bucks,” she said. “You got the money. She didn’t even call police on you. You just killed my baby like she was nothing. She is something.”

The robbery happened in a dimly lit area so the victims could only say that they were ordered out of their car by three men.

No further description was given.

If you know anything about who was at the park that night, you are asked to call Clayton County police.

Williams' family has set up a GoFundMe page for funeral expenses if you would like to help.

Cox Media Group