Justin Etienne Obituary, Death; – An arrest has been made in connection with the shooting death of an 18-year-old student who was killed earlier this week at a park in Newton County.
Authorities reported that 16-year-old Jarvis Hinton Jr. from Covington has been apprehended and charged with several offenses, including murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a minor, and reckless conduct. Hinton is a student at Newton High School.
He is alleged to have fatally shot 18-year-old Justin Etienne, a student at Salem High School, at Denny Dobbs Park on March 19, during a gathering of students from Rockdale and Newton County schools for Senior Skip Day. Deputies were dispatched to the park shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday after receiving reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered Etienne suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Following a thorough investigation, deputies found that several key witnesses, all students, had provided misleading information regarding the events leading up to the shooting. Investigators navigated through conflicting accounts, executed search warrants, and collected evidence that ultimately led to Hinton’s identification and arrest.
“The successful apprehension of this individual reflects the unwavering dedication and commitment of our investigators,” stated Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown. “The Sheriff’s Office is committed to pursuing justice for the victim, Justin Etienne, and his family. My condolences go out to all his loved ones during this difficult time. I also want to remind the community that providing false information during an investigation is a criminal offense that will result in legal repercussions.”
Rockdale County Public Schools expressed its deep sorrow over Etienne’s passing.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the child. We are continuing to collaborate closely with our law enforcement partners in Newton County and Rockdale County as they conduct their investigation,” the district stated.
