On the evening of February 7, 2019, 73-year-old White male Jack Hough, a successful businessman and philanthropist, was fatally shot in Gainesville, Georgia. He was waiting in his car in the parking lot of a CVS on Park Hill Drive while his wife was inside the store. The incident, which occurred around 7:45 p.m., was an apparent robbery or carjacking attempt. A man approached Hough's vehicle and, following a struggle, shot him twice in the torso. Hough was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
The Gainesville Police Department quickly launched an investigation into the homicide. Forensic evidence found at the scene led investigators to identify 24-year-old DeMarvin Bennett of East Point as the suspect. Just a few days after the shooting, on February 10, 2019, Bennett was arrested in East Point without incident. At the time of his arrest, police also located the gun believed to have been used in the shooting. Bennett was subsequently charged with murder.
DeMarvin Bennett's case proceeded through the legal system, and in April 2021, he stood trial for the murder of Jack Hough. During the trial, Hough's widow testified about the events of that tragic evening. Bennett was ultimately found guilty of malice murder and other charges related to the shooting. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Following his conviction, Bennett appealed the court's decision. In December 2024, the Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed the lower court's ruling, upholding his conviction and sentence. While incarcerated, Bennett faced another murder charge for the death of a fellow inmate in July 2021.
