In the pre-dawn hours of May 29, 2018, 16-year-old Grant Antonio Payton, a Black male, was at a friend's home on Two Lakes Circle in South Fulton, Georgia, when his life was abruptly ended. He and his friends had just returned from a late-night run to McDonald's. Shortly after their return, just before 1 a.m., gunfire erupted outside the residence.
Payton, who had recently and proudly started his first job at a Chick-fil-A, was struck by a bullet that penetrated the house and died in the
living room. The shooting also claimed the life of 19-year-old Tyree Johnson, who was found deceased in a car parked outside. A third teenager, a 15-year-old boy, was shot in the face but survived the attack. The residence and several vehicles were riddled with bullets, with police marking numerous shell casings at the scene. According to Payton's mother, the assailants demanded money before they began shooting.
The investigation into the double homicide led police to 18-year-old Adrian Chappell, who was arrested in August 2018. He was charged with two counts of murder, one count of aggravated assault with intent to rob, and one count of aggravated battery. While police have not ruled out the possibility of gang involvement, the motive appeared to be robbery.
At the time of Chappell's arrest for the murders, he, along with Montavious Powell and an unidentified 16-year-old, also faced charges related to burglaries of Fulton County Schools. Bond was denied for Chappell, who was booked into the Fulton County Jail.
