Fulton DA Will Seek Death Penalty For Suspected Kidnappers, Killers of DeKalb Couple

Andre Gay (L) and Richard “Fathead” Wilson are the prime suspects in the Aug. 30 kidnapping and murders of Jeronta Brown and Briana Brooks (Photo Credit: Fulton County Sheriff’s Office).

The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office will seek the death penalty for two men who are accused of kidnapping and murdering a DeKalb County couple when they did not receive a ransom for them.

District Attorney Paul Howard made the announcement on Friday afternoon, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Richard August “Fathead” Wilson and another man, Andre Gay of Stone Mountain, are suspected of abducting Jeronta Brown and Briana Brooks from outside their home in Decatur on Aug. 30. WSB-TV reports that the suspects dressed as FBI officers, placed the couple in handcuffs, and took them away in a van.

The kidnappers allegedly used Brown’s cell phone to demand a $150,000 ransom payment, the AJC reports.

When the ransom demand was not satisfied, the couple were dropped off on Ridge Avenue in northwest Atlanta and shot execution-style while still in handcuffs. Brown died at the scene, but Brooks survived the shooting and was taken to the hospital. Doctors could not save her life, but kept her alive long enough to deliver a healthy baby girl.

According to Fulton County jail records, Gay was booked on Sept. 26 and faces six counts of felony murder, two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated assault with intent to murder, five counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, four counts of kidnapping, criminal attempt to commit a felony, and a parole violation.

U.S. Marshals arrested Wilson in Birmingham earlier this month, WSB-TV reported. A release from the Marshals Service reports that Birmingham police made the arrest. Wilson was allegedly attempting to sell an assault rifle at a pawn shop when he was arrested. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports thatWilson was trying to pawn an AK-47 and had two handguns on him when he was arrested.

Wilson was also wanted for an unrelated murder in 2014 and for several federal probation violations, the Marshals Service release adds.

Atlanta police and Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta offered a $20,000 reward for information that would lead investigators to the suspects earlier this month. Anonymous tips collected by Crime Stoppers helped track Wilson to Birmingham, the Marshals Service says.