Teenage murder suspect was killed in Athens gang war

Alijah Nelson

By Joe Johnson .

An Athens gang member who was believed to be one of the shooters who murdered a rival was himself killed before the police even identified him as a suspect.

Brynarius Smith, 19, was shot to death by a trio of gunmen in April 2022 while sitting in front of his home on Cone Drive.

Police identified three suspects, two of whom were arrested in April 2024: Ja ‘Quavious Smith and Shamon Elder, both affiliated with the Red Tape Gang.

They were charged with murder, aggravated assault, and violating the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

The third suspect was identified as Alijah Nelson, who was killed six months after Smith’s murder, when he was killed during a shootout between RTG and EBE gang members.

Five murders since 2021 have been linked to the violent feud between the two street gangs.

Ja ‘Quavious Tyreek Smith

Shamon Ontae Elder Jr.

A search warrant executed for the Brynarius Smith murder investigation reveals that police had identified Nelson as one of three gang members who shot Smith.

The warrant return, a kind of receipt to show that the warrant had been executed, was filed in Superior Court just this week.

The return indicates that under the terms of the search warrant, photographs were taken of gang tattoos on Ja ‘Quavious Smith at the county jail. Known as JQ and having the Instagram handle of Glokboy45, Smith is said by police to be leader of the RTG gang.

Brynarious Smith

While Ja ‘Quavious Smith remains at the county jail for the pending murder trial, Elder is at Dodge State Prison, where in October he began serving a sentence for an armed robbery conviction.