ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Chasity James said she wants to know what really happened to her nephew, Justice Kai James, who died at the Turner Job Corps Center.

James, who raised Justice for 20 years, said he was a good person who loved to help people and was outgoing. She said he had recently returned to Job Corps to pursue a second trade certification after completing his first one and earning his high school diploma in culinary arts.

“He was really trying to better himself,” James said. “He lights up a room when he comes in.”

James said she learned of her nephew’s death through social media when her son called her while she was at a body shop. She said the school initially contacted his godmother, who lives in Albany, because that was the emergency contact on file at the time.

Investigation status unclear

When James spoke with Turner Job Corps officials Thursday, she said they told her the death remains under investigation but could not provide details about what happened.

“They couldn’t give me no answers to nothing really,” James said. “It’s an ongoing investigation and that there’s still an open investigation.”

James said police directed her to the school for more information, and the school directed her back to police. She said officials told her they have video footage but would not show it to her.

“I asked them could I see the videos. I want to see the videos,” James said. “They told me they don’t have the videos. I would have to go to the school and ask them for the videos.”

When she asked the school, James said officials told her police had the footage. She said one official told her he had watched the video from beginning to end on campus but could not explain why the school did not have a copy.

Questions about circumstances

James said she was told her nephew was hospitalized earlier in the day for a dislocated shoulder after doing flips, which she said was typical behavior for him. She said he was playful and enjoyed dancing and doing cartwheels.

When asked if Justice was experiencing mental health problems, James said no. She said she had spoken with him two weeks before his death and he was happy and excited about returning to school.

“He’s been a happy kid all year,” James said. “He seemed to be happy. You know, he know that we love him and always talk to him. So I don’t see no sign of the depression.”

James said Justice had mentioned missing his father, who died a couple of months ago, but the family was getting through it together. She said he had recently gotten a job at Amazon and was planning to visit Atlanta that weekend.

Student protests and social media claims

James said students at Turner Job Corps have been protesting and posting on social media about what happened. She said students are claiming someone else was responsible for her nephew’s death, not that he took his own life.

“The kids are in uproar because Justice didn’t do this himself,” James said. “They feel he didn’t do it himself.”

James said officials told her they brought in a person of interest for questioning along with his mother but would not say whether he was arrested or what the outcome of that questioning was.

“They couldn’t tell me if he was arrested, if he was let go or what,” James said. “They just told me they couldn’t tell me much about him.”

James said she asked officials about the student claims on social media, and they told her not to pay attention to the internet because when they questioned students, they heard conflicting accounts.

“How can you tell me not to listen to when it’s more than one child,” James said. “And then when they’re protesting and all these kids in the background it’s a lot going on.”

Security concerns

James raised questions about security at the facility. She said students told her that the area where her nephew was found is a known gathering spot on campus and that it was past curfew time when he was discovered.

“It was past curfew time. No one came looking. No one wanted to get involved. It was the students who found him. It wasn’t staff,” James said.

She said students told her they saw Justice at 8:30 p.m. with his girlfriend and that students found him at 9:30 p.m.

James said she wants the facility to ensure all cameras are working and to install better quality surveillance equipment. She also said she wants to see the video footage herself.

“I just want answers,” James said. “I want to know what happened to my baby.”

The U.S. Department of Labor said it is reviewing safety, security and student accountability protocols at Turner Job Corps following the death.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook, Instagram and X. For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app and add WALB as a preferred source on Google.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.