Georgia teens accused of murder after egging incident went wrong
In a prank gone seriously wrong, three Georgia teenagers have been arrested for allegedly murdering a man after egging his house.
On Monday, 3 July, Spalding County sheriff's deputies were called to Dobbins Mill Road in Griffin, Georgia following reports of a man lying in the middle of the road unresponsive.
Upon arrival to the scene they discovered 22-year-old Jonathan Gilbert, who had been shot to death.
Authorities say that a 'lovers' quarrel' involving the victim, 19-year-old McKenzie Davenport and 18-year-olds Sydney Maughon and Jeremy Munson led to the group egging his house.
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In a statement by the Spalding County Sheriff's Office, they explained: "It appears there was an ongoing lovers' quarrel and the suspects decided to go to Gilbert's residence on Dobbins Mill and vandalize it by egging it.
"When Gilbert saw what they were doing to his residence, he came out of the house unarmed, to confront them."
The suspects allegedly ran back to their car, and as Gilbert approached them, Maughon produced a firearm and shot him multiple times before they fled the scene, leaving Gilbert dead in the middle of the road.
Although it was Maughon who allegedly shot and killed the victim, the sheriff's office said that all three suspects will be held accountable for his death.
"Because they all plotted and planned together, and traveled to the location with the intent to commit a crime that led up to the murder together, they are all just as culpable as if they had each pulled the trigger themselves," they explained in a press release.
"They went to egg a house, the victim confronted them while they were doing it, he lost his life, and they drove off and left his body in the middle of the road," the sheriff's office added.
"Together they bought that ticket; now together they can ride that ride."
The three teenagers have all been charged with malice murder, battery and criminal trespass.
Maughon and Munson face additional charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Since Gilert's death, tributes have been paid to Gilbert on social media.
One person wrote: "I am so heartbroken that you are gone. I don't really even have the words to express what I'm feeling just know I love you so much!"
"I know you would have done so much good with your life," another posted. "Tyler Lane was a truly amazing young man and he loved with his whole heart."
"He will forever be missed. This world will not be the same without him in it."
Bec Oakes