Bryan Adrian Acero-Espinoza, a 23-year-old man from Brunswick, Georgia, died in the early morning hours of Sunday, April 12, 2026, after a shooting outside The Jerk Shack at 4420 Altama Avenue. The night had already wound down when Brunswick Police Department officers were at the restaurant clearing the parking lot after the business had closed. At about 2:00 a.m., while officers were still in the area, they heard a gunshot.
When officers moved to investigate, they found Bryan suffering
from a gunshot wound in the parking lot. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The setting made the violence especially stark: police were already nearby, the restaurant had closed, and what appeared to be the end of a late-night gathering suddenly became the scene of a fatal shooting.
Authorities identified the suspect as Gary Abray, 29, also of Brunswick. Police said Abray was on scene, and he was arrested in connection with Bryan’s death. He was charged with murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and discharging a gun near a public highway. Reports indicated he was being held in the Glynn County Jail after the arrest.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation assisted Brunswick police with processing the scene, while the Glynn County Police Department also provided support. Police described the case as active and ongoing after the arrest, asking anyone with additional information to contact Detective Justin Bradley or to provide anonymous tips through Silent Witness.
In the days after Bryan’s death, funeral arrangements were made in Brunswick. His obituary identified him by his full name, Bryan Adrian Acero-Espinoza, and said he was survived by his parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and a close friend. Visitation was held at Brunswick Memorial Park Funeral Home, followed by a funeral Mass at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and burial at Brunswick Memorial Park.
