In the early morning hours of April 3, 2025, in Duluth, Georgia, the life of 19-year-old Xavier Tyler Stephens, a male, was tragically cut short. Stephens was discovered near the intersection of Shackleford Road and Steve Reynolds Boulevard with at least one gunshot wound. He was urgently transported to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The Gwinnett County Police Department's Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Investigators promptly began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The investigation revealed a story of betrayal, allegedly stemming from a dispute over money. Three men were eventually arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Xavier Stephens: 27-year-old Stevens Estime, 26-year-old Malachi Stevenson, and 27-year-old Hernandez Jean Charles. The men face charges of malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault. Investigators believe the incident began after Stephens had taken money from Estime, who was described as his supposed best friend. This led to an initial altercation where Estime and others reportedly assaulted Stephens and took the money back.
Following threats of retaliation from Stephens, the three suspects allegedly tracked him to an apartment on Shackleford Road. It was there that they are accused of ambushing him as he waited for a ride. A relative of Stephens witnessed someone standing over him in the street before a vehicle blocked the view and sped away. A witness who was on the phone with Stephens during the attack reported hearing him plead, 'Steve, stop, stop. Stop shooting me.' An autopsy would later reveal that Stephens had been shot 14 times.
The case against the three suspects was built on evidence that included cell phone data placing them at the scene of the crime. Additionally, a TikTok video reportedly showed Estime with the alleged murder weapon inside the suspect vehicle, and ballistics testing connected the weapon to shell casings found at the scene. Following the shooting, the three men allegedly gathered at a house in DeKalb County, where a witness described them as 'partying, drinking, saying 'we got that boy.'' All three suspects are being held in the Gwinnett jail without bond. Friends and family remember Xavier Tyler Stephens for his vibrant personality and fearless heart. He was a proud father who had a passion for football and cars.
