Kenmare Bryan and Chandler Richardson: Teens held for Elijah DeWitt murder and may have known victim

LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA: Two teenagers have been charged with the murder of , a  high school football star, who was gunned down in a mall parking lot on Wednesday, October 5. Police are trying to determine the motive for the shooting allegedly carried out by the two suspects following a fight outside a Dave & Buster’s. They believe that the victim and suspects knew each other. 

DeWitt, an 18-year-old receiver for Jefferson High School, was murdered in the parking lot of the Sugarloaf Mills Mall. On Thursday, October 6, the Gwinnett County Police Department confirmed that two suspects, identified as Kenmare Bryan, 18, and Chandler Richardson, 19, both from Lawrenceville, had been arrested in South Carolina.

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They both have been charged with felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies in connection with the case. They are expected to be extradited to Gwinnett County on Monday, October 10. 

"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 on Thursday, according to . 

A report by stated that the authorities received three 911 calls on Wednesday night. In one call, a terrified woman reported about one of the suspected teenagers  being dropped off in a black vehicle and crossing her vehicle’s path. In another call, the manager of Dave & Buster's was instructed by the operator on how to perform CPR while the third call heard a man saying, "I was at Dave & Buster's, I heard people screaming, I looked towards my right, and I see someone lay down,"

The Jefferson High School Football program is heartbroken as we mourn the loss of one of our own, Elijah DeWitt. The DeWitt family is in our thoughts and prayers. We appreciate your understanding as we respect the family’s privacy during this time.

— Jefferson 🏈 Football #RIP2️⃣ (@JeffersonFootba) October 6, 2022

DeWitt's death has shaken the whole community. On the night of Sunday, October 9, more than 100 people turned up for a candlelight vigil for DeWitt, whose family described him as an inspiration for many. “Forgiveness is for the forgiver. We don’t want the hate in this household,” His father Craig said. His parents also revealed that he donated his organs and continues to help people even after his death. “I want him to be remembered as a fierce competitor with a very large heart,” his mother Dawn said, calling the death of her son “definitely the worst day of my life.”

“The Jefferson High School Football program is heartbroken as we mourn the loss of one of our own, Elijah DeWitt. The DeWitt family is in our thoughts and prayers. We appreciate your understanding as we respect the family’s privacy during this time,” a tweet from the Jefferson High School football program read.