In the winter of 2015, a life was tragically cut short on the streets of Rome, Georgia. Cornelius Driver Jr., a 23-year-old African American male, was fatally shot on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 27, 2015. The incident unfolded around 3:00 p.m. near the intersection of Wilson Avenue and Grover Street in South Rome. Driver sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to Floyd Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a single suspect, a 16-year-old named Niazua 'Nigel' Brown. Less than 24 hours after the shooting, on the morning of January 28, 2015, Brown was apprehended by Cartersville Police at a local motel. Despite his age, the decision was made to charge Brown as an adult in the murder of Cornelius Driver Jr.
Subsequent legal proceedings revealed a grim narrative of the events that transpired. Brown was charged with murder and was ultimately tried as an adult. The motive behind the senseless act of violence was reported to be a desire for dominance, with testimony indicating Brown wanted to be perceived as 'the baddest'. In a confrontation that escalated, Driver was shot in the back as he tried to flee. The assailant then continued to fire, shooting him a total of nine times as he lay in the street.
Niazua Brown pleaded guilty to the charges against him. On February 23, 2016, he was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Cornelius Driver Jr. An additional five years were added to his sentence for a firearm possession charge. Under the terms of his sentence, Brown will not be eligible for parole for at least 30 years.
