Jefferson High School Shooting – Just hours before the victim’s funeral, a court announced Wednesday that two adolescents accused of shooting and killing a Jefferson High School student at a Gwinnett County mall last week would not be released from custody. Wednesday night’s memorial service will honor Elijah DeWitt, a senior who played wide receiver for the Jefferson football team at the age of 18, at the school’s arena. After getting into some sort of confrontation, he was discovered shot to death on October 5 in the Sugarloaf Mills parking lot close to Dave & Buster’s, according to authorities.
Chandler Zion Richardson, 19, and Kemare Matthew Bryan, 18, both of Lawrenceville, were arrested the following day nearly 100 miles away in Anderson, South Carolina. By Tuesday, they were booked into the Gwinnett jail on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in DeWitt’s death.
Wearing the same clothes they wore at their arrest last week, Richardson and Bryan appeared before a Gwinnett County Magistrate Court judge Wednesday morning. Judge William Brogdon denied bond for the aggravated assault and firearm charges, citing the defendants’ alleged flight risk and danger to the community.
Only a superior court judge can set bond on the murder charges. “You’re going to be here for a while,” Brogdon said. A motive for the shooting has not been disclosed by police, but investigators believe the teens were at least familiar with each other. DeWitt’s family, however, does not believe he was friends with his alleged killers. His mother, Dawn DeWitt, told Trending innovative News her son had been enjoying his fall break the day he was killed. He’d spent time with family and friends, attended football practice and played golf just hours before going to Dave & Buster’s to enjoy the night.
“I felt like it was so great. He got to spend time with all of us,” his mother told Trending innovative . “I miss him so much. If I could just have one more day.” Elijah DeWitt’s funeral is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, his family is asking for donations to be made to a scholarship fund they plan to establish in his name. A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $45,000.
