CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. — In the shade of willow oaks, a family gathered once more Wednesday at the modest house in the town of Temple.
On Saturday, a birthday party filled the air with joy and the laughter of children. Now, the same space holds the heaviness of loss, with long hugs, quiet tears, and hands resting on shoulders.
Lareon Brown, a 26-year-old mother of three known to everyone as “Lay-Lay,” was shot and killed early Sunday morning in Carrollton.
Just hours before the tragedy, the family had celebrated 4-year-old Zailyn’s birthday here. Her aunt vividly remembers the moment.
“I saw my sister less than 24 hours before her life was taken from her, right here in this very yard, celebrating my niece’s birthday,” Netorian Crawford, Brown’s sister, told Channel 2’s Bryan Mims.
Police say a fight along Sixth Street led to gunfire, killing Brown and injuring two others, including her sister. Both the injured are recovering.
On Sunday afternoon, Carrollton police arrested Cyntez Worthy, 23, of Villa Rica, Jamine Hutchinson, 31, of Villa Rica, and Zontavius Vaughn, 26, of Carrollton.
They’re each charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Later in the week, Carrollton police arrested 34-year-old Geriguez Shadrion Lowery, charging him with the same crimes. All are in the Carroll County Jail.
The family says Lay-Lay had gone to a pajama party that night. She and her sister were waiting for a ride when the shots rang out.
Her cousin is struggling to make sense of it all.
“I just want justice for her,” Lawanda Johnson said. “She was a sweet person. She didn’t deserve this. She had three kids - they’re not ever gonna see their mom again.”
Those three daughters – ages 8, 4, and 1 - have lost their mother far too soon.
“Innocent, innocent,” Johnson said. “She wasn’t fighting with nobody. She wasn’t doing nothing but chillin’.”
To those who knew her, Lay-Lay brought joy everywhere she went - a loving spirit with an easy smile and a playful energy that lit up any room.
“I want you to remember my sister by her smile,” her sister says softly. “Her loving spirit, her silly self, dancing in the street.”
Now, beneath the same willow oaks that once shaded her laughter, the family gathers to weep.
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