More than a year after 14-year-old Demarrion Carter was gunned down outside his Monroe Street home, LaGrange police say they have a suspect in custody. Officers arrested a 16-year-old on Wednesday in connection with the killing, a development that ends a long stretch of uncertainty for Carter’s family and nearby residents.
Authorities identified the teen as 16-year-old Jeremiah Elijah Ford. Investigators say he was taken into custody Wednesday and is being held at a Regional Youth Detention Center, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Detectives have not publicly discussed a possible motive and say they are still gathering evidence.
What police say
According to investigators, the shooting unfolded on the evening of April 11, 2025. LaGrange officers say an unidentified person approached Carter outside a residence in the 800 block of Monroe Street and opened fire, critically wounding the 14-year-old, WTVM reports. Family members rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
The LaGrange Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division led the year-long investigation. Officials say the work of that unit ultimately produced evidence that pointed to Ford as the suspect.
Community response
Carter’s killing sparked a wave of community support for his family. His first-grade teacher organized a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and moving expenses, according to WSB-TV. Local nonprofits also stepped in to assist. The LaGrange Daily News reported on a project to build a new home for Carter’s mother after she said she could not bring herself to return to the Monroe Street house where the shooting happened.
Charged as an adult
LaGrange police say Ford is being charged as an adult in Carter’s death. Prosecutors will decide on the formal charges and schedule court dates as the case moves forward, according to WTVM. For now, he remains in a regional youth detention facility while investigators continue building the prosecution’s case.
Detectives are still asking for the public’s help. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective C. Brown at 706-883-2620 or send tips anonymously through Troup County CrimeStoppers or Tip411, FOX 5 Atlanta notes. Police say community tips, including any video footage from the area, could help close remaining gaps in the investigation.
