On a Thanksgiving evening that should have been filled with warmth and family, a senseless act of violence cut short the life of 18-year-old DreLandon Brown. The young man, a senior at Lambert High School and a football player with the North Georgia Falcons, was shot and killed inside a home in southeast Forsyth County, Georgia, on November 23, 2017.
The tragic events unfolded at a residence on Wondering Way, where a domestic dispute escalated into a fatal encounter.
Authorities were called to the scene just before 8 p.m. and found Brown with gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of first responders who administered CPR, he was transported to an area hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting saw the suspect flee the home, taking his own 2-week-old infant with him. The baby's mother resided at the home where the shooting occurred. Witnesses at the scene quickly identified the shooter to law enforcement, leading to a swift response. Within minutes, deputies located the suspect, then a 15-year-old juvenile named Re'Deyon Hughes, on a nearby street. Hughes surrendered to authorities without incident, placing the unharmed infant safely on the ground. The suspected murder weapon was recovered the following day near the home.
Hughes, from Roswell, was taken into custody and subsequently charged as an adult with murder and two counts of aggravated assault. The case proceeded through the legal system, and in January 2019, a Forsyth County jury found Hughes guilty of felony murder and other charges in connection with Brown's death. He was later sentenced to life in prison. During the trial, Hughes claimed he acted in self-defense, a claim the jury ultimately rejected.
