In the quiet community of Mount Zion, Georgia, the life of 17-year-old Candace LeShae Chrzan was tragically cut short on the evening of March 30, 2021. A senior at Mount Zion High School, Candace was looking forward to her graduation, having just picked up her cap and gown. She was a vibrant young woman, known for her love of music, playing the clarinet in the school's concert and marching bands, and her passion for singing.
She was also athletic, enjoying soccer and martial arts.
On that fateful Tuesday evening, Candace was with three friends in the backyard of a residence on Bowdon Junction Road. They were engaged in target practice with a. 22 caliber pistol, shooting at plastic bottles. The friendly gathering took a devastating turn when the firearm jammed. Candace handed the malfunctioning pistol to her 17-year-old classmate, Jeremy Matthew Gray, to clear the jam. As he was attempting to do so, the gun discharged, striking Candace in the head. Despite Gray's immediate attempts to render aid, her injury was fatal.
The Carroll County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene, and an investigation into the 'horrific tragedy' began. Investigators quickly determined that the shooting was likely a tragic accident, and all individuals present were cooperative with the authorities. The gun involved belonged to Gray's late grandfather. In the days following the incident, Jeremy Matthew Gray was arrested and faced initial charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct, and possession of a firearm by a person under the age of 18. The case also led to a second arrest. An 18-year-old, Samuel Blake Greer, was charged with making terroristic threats after posting a video on social media in which he held a gun and threatened to harm Gray for his role in Candace's death.
The legal process for Jeremy Matthew Gray unfolded over the subsequent years. In 2023, the charges against him were upgraded to murder and aggravated assault. However, by February 2026, a Carroll County Grand Jury indicted him on downgraded charges. The indictment included two counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct, possession of a firearm by a person under the age of 18, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Following the indictment, Gray, then 22 years old, waived his arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty.
