A 13-year-old boy attending a sleepover and a 45-year-old man were killed after someone opened fire on a Georgia home, sending dozens of bullets through the house from outside.
The deadly shooting happened on the morning of Thursday, July 2, at a home on Rockcliff Road in DeKalb County. Demarcus Shirley, 13, and Chauncey Newman, 45, were both killed, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.
Demarcus was among several young boys spending the night at the home when the gunfire erupted, Atlanta News First reported. No one else inside the house was injured.
“He seemed eager to learn. Kind of athletic,” Demarcus’ great-uncle, Gregory Carthon, told the outlet. “He had a lot of life in front of him.”
Days later, authorities arrested 21-year-old Keyshun Webb in connection with the shooting. Webb was taken into custody on Tuesday, July 7, and is being held without bail at the DeKalb County Jail.
He has been charged with two counts of murder, eight counts of aggravated assault with a weapon and one count of cruelty to animals.
According to arrest warrants obtained by Atlanta News First, surveillance footage allegedly showed Webb taking part in a separate drive-by shooting earlier that same day. Investigators said shell casings recovered from both scenes matched and determined that gang involvement was “likely.”
Authorities believe the shootings involved two vehicles and four male suspects, though no additional suspects have been publicly identified.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment.
Two boys who were sleeping inside the Rockcliff Road home later described the terrifying moments after the shots were fired.
“We had come upstairs, and I had seen him, and I tried to grab him, and he was dead, Demarcus,” Larenzo Pinkins told 11 Alive. “I’m happy it wasn’t me. I’m happy I wasn’t hit, but it should’ve been me, though, before Demarcus. Demarcus had too much life to live. He died too young.”
Larry Bell-Ware said Demarcus was not involved in street activity and was simply a playful child.
“He wasn’t in the streets at all,” Bell-Ware said. “He’s just a funny little kid who liked to run around and play like a normal little kid.”
Bell-Ware also remembered Newman as a generous man who welcomed children into his home whenever they needed somewhere safe to go.
“Any kids who were ever just walking around and didn’t have anywhere to go, they could just come here,” he said. “He was just a good person in general.”
