An 18-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a Gwinnett County high school student near campus last week turned himself in Sunday, police said.
Brendon Young of Lawrenceville is facing charges of murder and aggravated assault in the death of 17-year-old DeAndre Henderson, Gwinnett police spokeswoman Hideshi Valle said. The teenager surrendered at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Florida and is awaiting extradition to Georgia, Valle added. Police did not say what Young was doing in Florida.
The victim, who was a student at Norcross High School, had just left campus around noon Wednesday, during school hours, and was on Technology Parkway when he was shot at least once, police said. He was taken to a hospital, where he died hours later.
Henderson’s mother, Kimberly Parks, told Channel 2 Action News that someone lured him to fight someone when he was shot. Authorities have not said what led up to the shooting, but Valle confirmed the incident was isolated and did not put any students or staff at risk.
Hours after the shooting, Gwinnett County Superintendent Calvin Watts called for the community to come together to find solutions to violence.
“The gun violence in our community and around the country is unacceptable. It needs to stop,” Watts said. “This violence is entering our schools from the larger community, and we need to respond together.”
Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com
Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com
A family friend set up a GoFundMe campaign for funeral expenses.
“I’m deeply crushed,” Parks told the news station. “I’m angry that his life had to be ended so short and so soon. But I cherish all 17 years I had with him. He was my baby.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Gwinnett police at 770-513-5300. Tipsters can remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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