In a tragic and senseless act of violence, 3-year-old Kyron Santino Zarco Smith was killed on March 8, 2024, in Athens, Georgia. The young boy was at his home in the Hallmark Mobile Home Park, watching cartoons, when gunfire erupted from outside. A bullet struck Kyron in the chest, fatally wounding him. His 9-year-old brother was also struck by a bullet but sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to gang-related activity.
Authorities identified four suspects, all alleged members of a local gang known as 'Everybody Eats' or 'EBE.' The suspects were identified as Julian Cubillos, 17, Jayden Brown, 16, Dakious Echols, 18, and Desmontrez Mathis, 22. It is believed the shooting was an attempt to target a rival gang.
In the days and months that followed, law enforcement worked diligently to bring the perpetrators to justice. Julian Cubillos and Jayden Brown were the first to be apprehended in March. Desmontrez Mathis and Dakious Echols were arrested the following month. All four individuals were indicted by an Athens-Clarke County Grand Jury on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.
The legal process culminated in convictions for all four suspects. Jayden Brown and Dakious Echols both entered guilty pleas on January 8, 2026, and were each sentenced to life in prison. Desmontrez Mathis was found guilty by a jury on February 4, 2026. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, plus an additional 30 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of strict probation.
