UPDATE: Second arrest made in murder of Manchester High School student Brandon Smith
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has announced a second arrest in the ongoing investigation into the death of 17-year-old Brandon Smith, a student at Manchester High School.
On Thursday, the GBI, with support from the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Qua’vion Jakwon Cooper, 17, of Manchester, Georgia. Cooper has been charged with murder as a party to the crime for his involvement in Smith’s fatal shooting. Investigators determined that Cooper aided and abetted the suspected shooter, A’darious Jashawn Williams, during the December 2023 incident.
Smith was shot and killed on December 7, 2023, following an argument in Manchester. His body was discovered three days later, on December 10, behind a home on 3rd Avenue after a 911 caller reported finding a deceased individual. Smith had been reported missing two days prior.
Williams, 19, also of Manchester, was arrested and charged with murder in January 2024 after the Manchester Police Department requested GBI assistance. Authorities believe Williams was the individual who pulled the trigger during the altercation that ended Smith’s life.
Both Williams and Cooper are being held at the Meriwether County Jail.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Authorities are asking anyone with additional information related to the case to contact the GBI Columbus Field Office at (706) 565-7888. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by using the “See Something, Send Something” mobile app.
Law enforcement officials continue to seek justice for Brandon Smith and his family as the case develops.
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