In a harrowing incident that unfolded on the evening of April 18, 2025, 30-year-old Dereon Durell Hambrick was tragically killed outside a Decatur, Georgia apartment complex. The brutal events, captured on a residential doorbell camera, depicted a violent confrontation that ended with Hambrick’s death. He was a father to a 9-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter.
The situation escalated when 21-year-old Mel Harris arrived at the apartment on Belvadier Square with a group of people in
three separate vehicles. Harris, who is the father of two of Hambrick's sister's children, allegedly came to take the children. An argument ensued, and Harris reportedly forced his way into the residence, demanding that everyone inside come out.
The confrontation moved outdoors where Harris confronted Hambrick, the children's uncle. According to family members, as Hambrick’s mother ran for cover, she heard gunshots. Hambrick was shot execution-style in the back of the head. Following the shooting, he was run over by a vehicle. Investigators confirmed that Hambrick died at the scene.
In the aftermath of the murder, Mel Harris was arrested and has been charged with malice murder. He was denied bond. While one arrest has been made, Hambrick's family believes that others who were present and involved in the incident should also be held accountable. Three days after the murder, the two children at the center of the dispute were dropped off at a local hospital. The family continues to seek justice for all individuals involved in the events that led to Dereon Hambrick's death.
