An Athens-Clarke County Superior Court jury convicted Shamon Elder Jr. and Jaquavious Smith on May 5, 2026, for the murder of Brynarius Smith, 19, who was shot and killed while sitting on his front porch on April 16, 2022 [1]. The case was prosecuted by the Georgia Attorney General's Gang Prosecution Unit following a trial of approximately four weeks [1]. Charges against both defendants included malice murder, felony murder, and violation of Georgia's Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act [1].
The jury found Elder guilty of malice murder and gang-related charges, and found Smith guilty of felony murder and gang-related charges [1]. Both convictions carried a gang-activity component under the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, reflecting the prosecution's theory that the killing arose from gang conflict in Athens [1]. The trial court sentenced both defendants on the same day as the verdict [1].
Elder received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole plus 85 years [1]. Smith received a sentence of life with the possibility of parole plus 20 years of probation [1]. No post-trial motions or appeals were reported at the time of publication.
The Gang Prosecution Unit identified the convictions as the unit's 20th secured in Athens, and the office reported that total shootings in the city have declined by approximately 50 percent during the period in which the unit has operated there [1].