Authorities in Georgia have charged two men with murder following the tragic death of Brianna Long, a 21-year-old college student who was struck by a stray bullet while working at a bar. The arrests come more than a year after the fatal shooting in Remerton, Georgia.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced that Tsion Clayton, 23, and Kimone Green, 21, both from Lowndes County, have been charged with one count of malice murder in connection to Long’s death on October 29, 2023.
Long was working as a bartender at The Pier when an altercation outside led to gunfire. Investigators say she and another employee were struck by bullets. While her coworker survived, Long was rushed to South Georgia Medical Center, where she later passed away.
Authorities believe Clayton and Green were searching for another individual involved in a gang dispute when the shooting occurred. The suspects were not apprehended at the time, prompting officials to offer a $25,000 reward in early 2024 for information leading to their arrest.
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Following months of investigative work, the GBI and Remerton Police Department identified Clayton and Green as suspects. Both men were already in custody on separate, unrelated charges in Georgia and Florida when the new indictments were announced.
In addition to the murder charges, the suspects are part of a 44-count racketeering indictment that includes seven individuals allegedly linked to gang activity.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr revealed that the suspects are tied to a criminal organization called 528, which has been connected to multiple violent crimes, including murder, robbery, and assault.
Local officials have condemned the rise in gang-related crimes. Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Bradfield M. Shealy emphasized that gang violence has been a major issue in Valdosta, a city near Remerton.
“Many of the recent murders in Valdosta have been gang-related,” Shealy stated. “This violence doesn’t just harm gang members; it affects innocent people like Brianna Long.”
Long was a 2020 graduate of Paulding County High School and was pursuing a degree in dental hygiene at Valdosta State University. She was an athlete, cheerleader, and lifeguard, known for her kindness and energy.
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Her obituary described her as a “bright light” who left a lasting impact on everyone she met. “She was always making people smile,” her uncle Kevin Long recalled in an interview.
A GoFundMe campaign launched to support her family has raised over $25,000.
Despite the arrests, the GBI says the case remains active. Anyone with additional information about the shooting is urged to contact the GBI at 229-225-4090.
