4th grade teacher victim of suspected carjacking in Vinings

Police investigate after 28- year- old was killed outside his apartment.

Ricardo Knox was making something of himself.

A f ourth grade teacher and burgeoning f ashion designer, Knox lived by the mantra, “If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will,” said his cousin, Tisa Smith. It was a lesson the 28- year- old tried to pass on to his students at T. H. Slater Elementary School in southwest Atlanta.

“He worked to inspire, because he himself was an inspiration,” Smith said.

On Monday night, Knox was ambushed and fatally shot when he returned home to his apartment at the Westhaven at Vinings complex off Cumberland Parkway. Authorities pronounced him dead at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital. Cobb County police believe Knox was the victim of a carjacking, according to spokesman Sgt. Wayne Delk.

Smith said her family is relyi ng on t he police department to provide answers in his seemingly senseless death. So far, they have none.

To those who loved him, Knox was an example of how hard work and creativity pay offffffffffff. He was a graduate of Benjamin E. Mays High School and ret urned t o Atlanta Public Schools to teach after attending the Universit y of West Georgia, according to his family.

Before beginning at Slater one year ago, Knox taught at Luther J. Price Middle School, Smith said.

“We grew up in southwest Atlanta, not very wealthy by any means financially, but certainly with a lot of love as a family,” she said. “His mission was to show other young, Black children that you could rise above any circumstances as long as you worked hard.”

Knox inspired young mind sin the classroom, and Smith said he was also constantly inspiring family and friends with his clothing creations — customized sneakers, sweatshirts and other items he sold online. Smith said Knox’s apartment looked like a designer’s studio, with an entire clothing collection now left unfinished.

“He was a force, and the world is going to be a lot dimmer without him being here,” she said.

His death remains under investigation. Del ks aid Thursday detectives were “actively following up on leads .” Police have not released further information about the fatal shooting or said whether they are looking for Knox’s car.

A private funeral is planned for next week in Atlanta. Smith said her family will also honor Knox with a public memorial at a later date, when they can do so safely.

Teacher Ricardo Knox was apparently ambushed and shot Monday night while arriving home.