MANCHESTER, Georgia – A Georgia teenager has been arrested and charged with the murder of Brandon Smith, a high school football player whose body was discovered just a day before his team was scheduled to play in the state championship.
A’darius Jashawn Williams, 19, was taken into custody for the murder of the 17-year-old athlete. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Smith was found shot dead in a wooded area near the local police station.
The bureau revealed that Williams shot and killed Smith after an argument, although the details of the dispute or the relationship between the two young men were not provided.
Smith went missing on December 7 and was reported as such two days later when he failed to return home. His body was found on December 10, the day before his team’s championship game.
Smith’s grandmother, who had raised him since infancy, expressed her concerns about his behavior prior to his disappearance. She described her grandson as wanting to confide in her, suggesting he may have been troubled.
Following the tragic news, the football team honored Smith at the state championship by holding his jersey number as they entered the field. The game ended in a one-point loss for the team.
Superintendent Robert Griffin and Principal Suze Neal wrote a letter to the community, expressing their heartbreak over Smith’s untimely death.
Williams has been incarcerated at the Meriwether County Jail, with the investigation still ongoing.
To honor Smith’s memory, his grandmother expressed the importance of remembering him for his kindness and good-hearted nature.
In conclusion, the community is left devastated by the loss of a promising young athlete, highlighting the need for justice and closure in the wake of this tragic incident.