Cory Roberts

Cory Roberts, 22, is remembered by family and friends as an energetic, creative young man who was working to build a brighter future. Though he did not complete high school, Cory had been preparing to earn his GED and hoped to continue his education. He loved music — citing artists from Coltrane to Smokey Robinson and The Temptations — and also wrote rap songs and worked on a book that his family kept. Those who knew him described him as athletic and active; he had run track in high school and was known for his physical energy and quiet determination.

Cory was deeply connected to his loved ones. Family members have spoken of his caring nature and the ways he looked ahead toward new opportunities. His mother, Natasha Bruner, made public appeals after his death asking for information and expressing the heartbreak of losing a son. In August 2017, a profile of several Atlanta families grieving homicide victims recalled Cory as someone who wanted to change his life for the better and who held ambitions for school and work.

Public records and news accounts focus on the tragedy of Cory’s death, but those who knew him emphasize the life he lived: a young man with musical tastes, creative impulses, athletic ability, and plans to further his education. While details in the public record about his private life remain limited, the verified accounts make clear that Cory was a real person with hopes, relationships, and talents. This remembrance honors those parts of him — the music he loved, the writing he pursued, the goals he was working toward — and the family and friends who continue to carry his memory.