In a turn of events that has shaken a Lawrenceville neighborhood, Walter Debron Hill was convicted and sentenced for the double homicide of two brothers. Gwinnett County jurors found Hill guilty of the 2021 murder of Darius Myles, 28, and Christopher Smith, 21, in their home. Sentenced by Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Tamela Adkins, the 31-year-old received two life terms without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 10 years, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The victims, described by the District Attorney as men with promising futures, were killed at home during their sleep. "These brothers were killed at home in their sleep. My heart goes out to their family for this unspeakable loss. The defendant’s sentence is justice, and we hope that this will be the start of the healing process," Patsy Austin-Gatson stated in a release. Details emerge that Hill was a family friend, well-acquainted and often invited for Sunday dinners, this information according to the family's previous accounts to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The tragic incident was discovered by the victims' mother, who found her sons fatally shot. Police found no signs of forced entry but recovered .40-caliber shell casings at the scene. Hill's odd behavior post-tragedy and his failure to extend condolences to the family raised suspicions. Investigations further linked him to the crime scene with cell phone data and security footage. The neighbor's surveillance captured a shadowy figure at the house shortly before the murders, as presented during the trial.
After Hill fled to Texas, investigators uncovered shell casings matching those at the crime scene in his car. The firearm expert's testimony sealed Hill's fate by confirming the casings recovered were fired from a weapon owned by him. Even with the overwhelming evidence, throughout the trial Hill maintained his innocence concerning the intent behind the shootings and attempted to minimize his connection with Myles. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, upon questioning, Hill expressed indifference, stating he "felt nothing."
The family, left to grapple with an enormous loss, still find themselves questioning the motives behind such a heinous act. "We still don’t really know what set him off," Tyreene Brown, the mother of the victims, shared after the arrest in a(n) interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Despite the conviction and subsequent sentence, the void left by the untimely demise of the Myles brothers remains unrepaired in the hearts of their family and the Lawrenceville community.
