On an April evening that should have been filled with the promise of an upcoming birthday celebration, 22-year-old Jerrett Mitchell’s life was tragically cut short. The young man, an aspiring rapper and fashion brand creator, was out with a friend on April 28, 2023, shopping for an outfit for his 23rd birthday party. The two decided to stop at Discover Wings off Indian Trail Lilburn Road in Norcross, Georgia. It was a decision that would irrevocably alter the course of many lives.
Inside the restaurant, a chance encounter with a man from his past, Xavier Jones, turned deadly. An altercation erupted, and in the doorway of the bustling establishment, shots were fired. Jerrett Mitchell was struck and died at the scene, his life extinguished just weeks before he was to celebrate another year. His friend was also wounded in the shooting but survived with non-life-threatening injuries. In the immediate aftermath, chaos ensued as witnesses scrambled for cover, and the shooter, or shooters, initially fled the scene, prompting a search by law enforcement involving a K-9 unit and a police helicopter.
The investigation into the senseless violence led Gwinnett County police to 22-year-old Xavier Jones. He was arrested in June of 2023 while already in custody in neighboring Cobb County on unrelated charges. Jones was subsequently charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection with the fatal shooting of Jerrett Mitchell.
The case proceeded to trial, where the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office argued against a claim of self-defense. However, in April of 2025, a jury delivered a verdict that brought a complex and painful chapter to a close for Mitchell's family. Xavier Jones was found not guilty of murder and aggravated assault. He was, however, found guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was sentenced to seven years in prison. The verdict, while respected by the District Attorney's office, was a difficult outcome for the family of Jerrett Mitchell, who continue to mourn the loss of a son and brother with vibrant dreams that will now go unfulfilled.
