The city of Grayson is mourning after 44-year-old Sharell Canty was found dead inside her home Sunday morning in a tragedy that has left neighbors stunned and heartbroken. Police said Canty suffered an apparent gunshot wound inside the residence on Wilkerson Way in what investigators believe may have been a domestic-related shooting.
Gwinnett County police responded to the 300 block of Wilkerson Way around 8:42 a.m. after a neighbor discovered Canty inside the home and quickly contacted emergency officials. When officers arrived, they found Canty dead inside the residence. Crime scene investigators stayed at the home for several hours collecting evidence as shocked neighbors watched from outside.
Residents in the normally peaceful neighborhood said the scene was difficult to process. Police vehicles lined the street while yellow crime scene tape surrounded the property for most of the morning. Several neighbors described seeing ambulances arrive as officers moved carefully around the home gathering information.
One witness said emotions became overwhelming after a woman arrived at the scene and collapsed in tears after learning what had happened. Others said the silence from emergency crews was chilling. Neighbors noticed the ambulance left the area without sirens, signaling the situation was already beyond saving.
Investigators later confirmed that one person had been taken into custody in connection with the shooting. On Monday, authorities identified the suspect as 48-year-old Stephany Byrom, also from Grayson. Police charged Byrom with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Officials have not publicly explained the exact relationship between Canty and Byrom, but investigators said the case appears to be domestic in nature. Authorities have also not released a possible motive as detectives continue piecing together exactly what led up to the deadly shooting inside the home.
As the investigation moves forward, many in the community are choosing to focus on Sharell Canty’s life instead of the violence that took it away. Friends and loved ones described her as caring, compassionate, and deeply kind to people around her. Those who knew her best said her sudden death has created a painful emptiness that will not be easy for the community to overcome.
For neighbors on Wilkerson Way, the tragedy has been difficult to accept. Many said they never expected something so devastating could happen in their quiet neighborhood. Now, flowers, tears, and memories are replacing the flashing police lights that filled the street only hours earlier.
