CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — More than three years after a 14-year-old boy was shot and killed during a house party, a man has been charged with his murder.
In October 2021, Landon Andrews was at a house party in Woodstock when shots rang out. The Kell High School freshman was found in the back of an SUV after being shot in the torso. He later died at the hospital.
Detectives say in recent weeks, they received new information pointing to Jaden Simmons, a 22-year-old from Mableton, as a suspect. Simmons was arrested on Sunday and charged with murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, cruelty to children and gang charges.
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He is currently being held in the Cherokee Adult Detention Center without bond.
Investigators did not comment on what new information pointed them to Simmons. But in October, the sheriff’s office released new video from the party in the hopes someone would come forward.
The video shows the moments gunfire rang out and kids at the party went scrambling.
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Andrews’ mom, Shawnda Schafer, spoke to Channel 2 Action News in 2021. She said that as she watched her son take his last breath, she hoped the shooter would do the right thing.
“We are working so hard to try to figure out who did this to him,” Schafer said. “I would like for that person to just come forward.”
Elijah Harrison, 17, was arrested in November 2021. Investigators say he fired six shots from a moving car after the initial shots rang out.
Investigators did not comment on if Simmons is the person they believe fired the initial shots.
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