Gwinnett County

Two arrested in connection to shooting death of star Georgia football player

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The Gwinnett Police Department said they have arrested two people in the death of a 17-year-old star football player was shot outside a metro Atlanta mall.

Elijah DeWitt, of Jefferson, was shot to death in a parking lot outside Dave & Buster’s at Sugarloaf Mills Wednesday night.

Police said Friday that they have since arrested two people in South Carolina.

Gwinnett County police said Chandler Zion Richardson, 19, was arrested Thursday and Kemare Matthew Bryan, 18, was arrested on Friday.

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Jefferson High School confirmed on Thursday that DeWitt played wide receiver for the school. He would have graduated this school year.

“The Jefferson High School Football program is heartbroken as we mourn the loss of one of our own, Elijah DeWitt. The DeWitt family is in our thoughts and prayers. We appreciate your understanding as we respect the family’s privacy during this time.”

Police say the investigation is ongoing and they are exploring all motives. Police have not released details on what led up to his death.

It is unclear if the teen had been a customer at the Dave & Buster’s.

Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes was at Memorial Stadium Thursday, where DeWitt practiced.

One of his motivational coaches was Devon Gales, a former Southern University player who was paralyzed during a game at the University of Georgia in 2015.

Gales said DeWitt was a star who likely had a football scholarship in his future.

“He was a major part of the team and he had a scholarship coming, I knew he did,” Gales said. “He was silly. He’s a very outgoing kid. He loves his friends, brothers. Very family-oriented and chill guy.”

DeWitt’s school was on fall break this week, but his team was supposed to practice Thursday morning. Coaches canceled the practice because the players were so distraught.

“This guy, just a phenomenal kid, a great athlete,” Gales said. “And his life was taken just out walking out of Dave & Busters.”

Channel 2 reached out to Sugarloaf Mills Mall’s management company, Simon, for a comment, but has not yet heard back. Loved ones are hoping cameras on mall property will help police with the investigation.

Anyone with information to share in this case are asked to contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com.

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This is the second deadly shooting of a 17-year-old that Gwinnett County police are investigating this week.

Timothy Buchanan, 17, was shot and killed on a basketball court in Lawrenceville. No description of the shooter has been released.

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