Suspect in Kennesaw State student's road rage death faces judge

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The woman accused of killing a local college student after an altercation on the road appeared before a judge from behind bars Saturday night.

Police say road rage prompted 22-year-old Sparkles Lindsey to shoot 21-year-old Kennesaw State University student Kimberly Kilgore to death. Lindsey stood emotionless as she heard the charges against her, including aggravated assault and murder.

Police say Lindsey fatally shot Kilgore early Friday morning at the Shiloh Green Apartments off Shiloh Road in Kennesaw as friends of both women watched. The shooting happened after an altercation between the two groups that investigators say started on the road.

"Kim was just a joy to be around, never would do anything to hurt anybody, never talked about anybody, was just always happy," friend and former manager Alisa Pannell told Channel 2's Ashley Swann. "The next thing you know, her life's taken for no reason at all."

Kilgore's friends who worked with her at Johnny's BBQ in Powder Springs are struggling to understand how her life ended so senselessly.

"We're still trying to take it all in and digest everything," Pannell said.

They say they rejoiced when they heard police arrested Lindsey.

"I just thanked God right then because I was so happy that her killer was off the streets," said Pannell.

Kilgore's friends and colleagues are now collecting money at the restaurant to help her family cover funeral expenses. Hundreds of others are making donations and tributes online under the hashtag "prayforkim." Friends say that outpouring of love shows just what a special person the world has lost.

"It just shows how many people loved Kim and what an impact she made," Emily Benton told Swann. "She was taken so soon, but in a short time she made the biggest impact of anyone else."

Lindsey is being held at the Cobb County Jail without bond. Kilgore was a junior at KSU studying communications. A school spokesperson says they will have grief counselors available this week.

WSBTV