In the afternoon hours of May 7, 2017, a young life was tragically cut short on Cody Court in Lithonia, Georgia. Tyler LaFonte` Bingham, a 16-year-old male, was found shot multiple times around 5 p.m. The motive for this violent act appeared to be the theft of his backpack.
The investigation into Bingham's death quickly led authorities to two suspects, 21-year-old Adaren Kemond Carter and his 16-year-old cousin, Jacob Maddox. An observant neighbor had photographed Carter and Maddox fleeing the scene in an SUV, providing a crucial lead for law enforcement. Carter was subsequently arrested on Wednesday, May 25, 2017, at a gas station in southeast Atlanta. Both he and Maddox were charged with murder. In addition to the murder charge, Carter also faced charges of armed robbery and theft by receiving stolen property, the latter charge stemming from his alleged possession of a stolen Smith and Wesson 9-millimeter pistol.
During a preliminary hearing in early June 2017, details of the events that transpired on the day of Bingham's death began to emerge. Detective V.R. Van Hees of the DeKalb County Police testified that Maddox provided a statement implicating his cousin. According to Maddox, he witnessed Carter chase Bingham behind a house. Shortly after, he heard gunshots and then saw Carter emerge with the stolen backpack. Maddox recounted Carter's chilling words to him: “I shot him, bro. Get me out of here.” It was also revealed that Carter and Bingham were acquainted with each other from the neighborhood and had a history of conflict, though the specific nature of their disagreements was not detailed.
Carter’s attorney argued for the dismissal of the charges, suggesting the state's case was overly reliant on the testimony of a co-defendant. However, the judge found that there was sufficient probable cause for the case against Adaren Kemond Carter to proceed.
