In the small town of Chauncey, Georgia, a life was tragically cut short on the morning of Saturday, November 16, 2019. Braydon Stokes, a 17-year-old Caucasian male, was at a residence on Brown Street when he sustained a fatal gunshot wound. Emergency services were called to the scene around 9:00 a.m., and the young man was quickly transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased shortly after his arrival.
A junior at Dodge County High School, his death sent ripples of sorrow through the close-knit community.
The initial investigation, conducted by the Chauncey Police Department and the Dodge County Sheriff's Office, soon involved the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. It was reported that a 15-year-old juvenile at the home, who had just come back from a hunting trip, claimed his firearm had accidentally discharged, striking Stokes. An autopsy performed on November 18, 2019, confirmed that a gunshot wound was the cause of death. The GBI's extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting continued for several months.
On February 3, 2020, the GBI announced an arrest in connection with Braydon Stokes's death. The 15-year-old male who had reported the accidental discharge was taken into custody. He was not publicly identified due to his status as a juvenile. The investigation led to charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct being filed against the teen. Following the arrest, the findings of the investigation were handed over to the Oconee Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
