NEWTON COUNTY — The Newton County Sheriff’s Workplace (NCSO) has arrested 16-year-old Jarvis Hinton Jr. in reference to the homicide of 18-year-old Justin Etienne at Denny Dobbs Park on Wednesday. That is the primary arrest made within the case.
Hinton, a Covington resident and scholar at Newton Excessive College, faces costs of homicide, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm throughout the fee of a felony, possession of a firearm by an individual beneath the age of 18 and reckless conduct. The NCSO has confirmed that Hinton will probably be charged as an grownup.
Hinton is at the moment being held on the Newton County Detention Heart.
Primarily based on a press launch from the NCSO, investigators interviewed a number of witnesses, all of whom are college students, because the murder coincided with a “Senior Skip Day.” Etienne was a scholar at Salem Excessive College in Rockdale County.
The coed witnesses allegedly “supplied deceptive details relating to the occasions.” The NCSO added that further costs relating to offering false statements to legislation enforcement are “pending,” although didn’t make clear if these costs can be added to Hinton or different suspects.
“Since March 19, investigators have labored by way of conflicting statements, executed search warrants and gathered proof, finally resulting in the identification and arrest of the suspect,” the press launch acknowledged.
Based on the NCSO’s assertion, the investigation continues to be underway and extra suspects could also be arrested sooner or later.
Previous releases from the NCSO stated Etienne was shot at Denny Dobbs Park in Newton County on Wednesday, March 19 simply earlier than 5 p.m. He was transported to a close-by hospital and later succumbed to his accidents.
The capturing passed off in a wooded space close to the park and was not a drive-by capturing. Moreover, there is no such thing as a proof suggesting any gang involvement, and the incident seemed to be remoted.
The discharge doesn’t increase on the character of different potential suspects’ potential involvement within the incident. Moreover, the precise circumstances that led to the capturing haven’t been launched.
The discharge additionally consists of feedback from Sheriff Ezell Brown.
“The Workplace of the Sheriff is devoted to looking for justice for the sufferer, Justin Etienne, and his household,” the assertion reads. “My coronary heart goes out to all his family members throughout this time. Moreover, I need to remind the group that offering false info throughout an investigation is a criminal offense and can result in authorized penalties.”
