On a tragic day in Aurora, Colorado, 19-year-old Wayne Carter lost his life in a violent outburst that stemmed from a domestic dispute. The events of August 31, 2018, unfolded when D'Marcus Jones-Brown, 31, became enraged after his wife and her 8-year-old son placed stickers on a wall in their apartment on North Peoria Street. The argument escalated, and his wife called for help from her brother, Wayne Carter, and the boy's father, 26-year-old Anthoni Readus.
As Carter and Readus arrived
at the apartment complex, an Aurora police officer, Jason Sweeney, was already on the scene taking a statement from Jones-Brown's wife. In the parking lot, Jones-Brown confronted Carter and Readus, opening fire on them. Carter was shot five times, and Readus was struck seven times. The 8-year-old boy was also shot in the leg but survived his injuries. In an act described as his last act of protection, Carter gave his life trying to save his sister and nephew.
Officer Sweeney rushed toward the sound of gunfire and was met by Jones-Brown, who then began shooting at him. A bullet struck the officer's Kevlar vest, saving him from serious injury. Sweeney returned fire, hitting Jones-Brown multiple times. Both the officer and Jones-Brown survived the exchange. Wayne Carter and Anthoni Readus, however, succumbed to their wounds.
D'Marcus Jones-Brown was arrested and faced 22 charges, including murder and attempted murder. In May 2021, an Adams County jury found him guilty on nine counts, which included two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of Carter and Readus. He was subsequently sentenced to 80 years in prison for his actions on that fatal day.
