Javonnie Mondray Chambers, a 41-year-old Black male, was killed in a shooting incident at his home in Hazlehurst, Georgia, on the evening of May 16, 2014. The residence, located on Harrison Nook, was riddled with bullets from at least two gunmen. Tragically, his 64-year-old mother, Mary L. Chambers, was also killed in the attack. Authorities with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation stated that their initial findings suggested the shooting of Javonnie Chambers was drug-related and that his mother was not the intended target. At the time of the deadly assault, two young children, aged two and four, were also inside the home but were unharmed. Javonnie Chambers was transported to Jeff Davis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The investigation into the double homicide was a collaborative effort between the Hazlehurst Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The inquiry led investigators to three suspects from Jacksonville, Florida: Robert Benjamin Brown, then 30; Brandon Dante Hardaman, then 26; and Gerald Wright. The investigation revealed that Brown and Hardaman traveled to Jeff Davis County on the day of the murders. Evidence, including text messages and phone records, implicated Brown in the crime. It was determined that a 9mm semi-automatic pistol was used to shoot Mondrea Chambers, while his mother was killed by a. 308 rifle round as the house was sprayed with gunfire. Gerald Wright was identified as the driver of the getaway vehicle, a silver Dodge Charger.
In May 2022, Robert Benjamin Brown accepted a plea agreement, pleading guilty to two counts of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to 40 years, with the first 20 years to be served in prison. Prior to Brown's plea, in January 2022, Gerald Wright faced a jury trial for his role in the murders and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The case against the third co-defendant, Brandon Dante Hardaman, was placed on the dead docket.
