In the late hours of a summer night in Macon, Georgia, a family dispute escalated into a tragedy that claimed the life of 22-year-old Antwan Rutherford. On Saturday, August 12, 2017, what began as a domestic altercation between Rutherford and his uncle, 45-year-old Darnell Stephens, spiraled into an exchange of gunfire outside a home on John Kennedy Drive.
The argument reportedly led both men to retrieve firearms.
In the ensuing confrontation, both Rutherford and Stephens sustained gunshot wounds. Rutherford was struck in the head, a fatal injury that would end his life later that morning at the Medical Center, Navicent Health. Stephens was shot in the leg and received medical treatment for his injuries.
Following the incident, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office launched a homicide investigation. Darnell Stephens was identified as the suspect in his nephew's death. After being treated for his leg wound, Stephens was taken into custody and subsequently charged with the murder of Antwan Rutherford. The investigation determined that the fatal shot was fired by Stephens.
The death of the young man, a father of one, was mourned by his family and friends. Funeral services were held the following weekend at Smith Street Baptist Church, with interment at Woodlawn Memorial Park. The case proceeded through the legal system, with Stephens facing the consequences of the violent encounter that ended his nephew's life.
