Elijah DeWitt murder: Court denies bond to alleged killers Chandler Richardson and Kemare Bryan
LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA: Gwinnett County Magistrate Court has denied bond to Chandler Zion Richardson, 19, and Kemare Matthew Bryan, 18, for shooting and killing Elijah DeWitt, 18, on Wednesday, October 12. Both teens of Lawrenceville are facing charges, which include malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm. The victim who played wide receiver for the Jefferson football team was found dead on Wednesday, October 5 in the parking lot of Sugarloaf Mills Mall near Dave & Buster’s. As per the police, the incident happened after the three got into some sort of argument.
The alleged killers were nabbed some 100 miles away in Anderson, South Carolina, on Thursday, October 6, and were booked into the Gwinnett prison during the commission of a felony in DeWitt’s murder. Magistrate Court Judge William Brogdon, reasoned that the defendants’ alleged flight risk and danger to the community, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. As per the rules, only a superior court judge can grant a bond on the murder charges. Brogdon stated, “You’re going to be here for a while.”
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The investigative team is still trying to find the exact reason for shooting DeWitt, but believes that the teens knew each other. However, DeWitt’s family doesn't believe in such claims. "Detectives are still working to investigate the motive behind this incident, it appears that the suspects and the victim were familiar with each other and when they encountered each other in the parking lot, an altercation took place and then the shooting," Gwinnett police said in a statement, as per Fox News.
In an interview with Channel 2 Action News, the victim’s mother, Dawn DeWitt shared that her son had been enjoying his fall break the day he was murdered. On the day of his killing, DeWitt, spent time with his family and friends, went to his football practice, and played golf just hours before going to Dave & Buster’s to enjoy the rest of the evening, the report stated.
“I felt like it was so great. He got to spend time with all of us,” said Dawn DeWitt. “I miss him so much. If I could just have one more day.”
Elijah DeWitt's funeral was hosted by Jefferson Church on Wednesday, October 12, at 6 pm. A GoFundMe campaign in his name has raised more than $45,000 of it's $60,000 target. The Dewitt family is planning to introduce a scholarship in the honor of their son with the fundraiser money.