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Man charged in connection to Johns Creek teen’s death turns himself in

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Johns Creek police have arrested a man known as “Black Jesus” in connection to the death of a teenage girl from Johns Creek.

Shawn Mark Anthony Saleem, 25, turned himself in to police on Tuesday.

On Feb. 14, police responded to a home on Craftsman Street in response to a teen found unresponsive. Friends identified her as 16-year-old Carly Jackson. She was a student at Johns Creek High School.

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Police said a friend told officers that she was with the victim the night before but found her unresponsive in the morning.

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Jackson’s obituary said she was loved by family and friends and was most memorable for her kind heart, laugh and beautiful smile. She loved to travel, all things Disney and her dogs.

On Monday, police issued an arrest warrant for Saleem. He is facing charges of concealing the death of another and contributing to the delinquency of minors.

Former federal prosecutor-turned-defense attorney Bret Williams said investigators likely combed through Jackson’s phone and interviewed witnesses to tie Saleem to the situation.

“You would have information in the cell phone, about a person’s contacts, who they’re friends with, who they spoke with, frequently, when’s the last time they use that phone, who they spoke with the last time,” Williams said. “Maybe there’s text messages saying ‘Come on over,’ in and around the time that the event happened.”

Jackson’s family laid her to rest on Friday.

The Fulton County School system released a letter to the high school community:

Dear Johns Creek High School Community,

There are times when it is necessary to communicate news that is painful for all of us. During those times, we must be prepared to support each other and our students. It saddens me to announce that one of our 11th grade Johns Creek High students has died unexpectedly.

When events such as this happen, youth react in different ways. You may see your child acting sad, upset, angry, shocked, or numb. For some students a death of someone they know may remind them of some other loss in their lives. For others, this may be their first encounter with death.

The death of a student may affect your child in a variety of ways depending on his or her age, how well he or she knew the student, and your child’s prior experience with grief. When reacting to an unexpected incident, students may display behaviors such as the following:

  • Cling closely to adults
  • Display regressive behaviors
  • Appear not to be affected
  • Think about it privately
  • Ask a lot of questions
  • Appear frightened
  • Appear agitated and angry
  • Appear sad and withdrawn
  • Display difficulty sleeping
  • Stomach aches and/or headaches

We suggest that you make an extra effort to listen to your child during this time. It is important that you deal honestly and directly with any questions that he or she may have. Referring to death as passing away may result in confusion and it is appropriate that you use the word “death” in your discussions. Below are some other suggestions that parents may find useful in helping their child:

  • Be a good listener. Listen carefully for any misconceptions or distortions your child may have.
  • Provide physical closeness. Spend extra time with your child. Talk and offer reassurance.
  • Encourage your child to ask questions and to discuss their feelings.

We will also be offering the following supports during this difficult time for our school community.

In Person: Face to face students needing support on Tuesday should let their teachers know if they need support and they will be directed to speak with a Care Team staff member.

Care Team Hotline: FCS School Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers will be answering calls from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at 470-254-5050.

Care Team Connect: Individual or groups of students can sign-in remotely on Tuesday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm for a facilitated TEAMS session with Care Team staff.

Text 4 Help: Text GLADIATORS to 1-844-201-9946 any time.

Information regarding your student’s JCHS School Counselor:

http://johnscreekguidance.com/counseling-department/

Mental Health partner for Johns Creek High School

The Summit Counseling Center, 678-893-5300, https://summitcounseling.org/on-site-counseling-service-provides-students-with-immediate-access-to-therapists/

Thank you for supporting our students during this difficult time. We ask that you keep the Johns Creek High School family in your thoughts.