Crime & Public Safety

18-year-old wanted, accused of fatally shooting teen in Lawrenceville

Malachi Matthew Perkins, 18, is wanted after Lawrenceville police said he shot and killed a 16-year-old Saturday.
Malachi Matthew Perkins, 18, is wanted after Lawrenceville police said he shot and killed a 16-year-old Saturday.
By Tanni Deb and
Updated Dec 15, 2020

The search continued Tuesday for the 18-year-old accused of shooting and killing a 16-year-old, according to Lawrenceville police.

Officers were called Saturday to Northside Gwinnett Hospital in reference to a shooting patient. The teenager was pronounced dead a short time later, police said.

An investigation later identified Malachi Matthew Perkins as the suspect, the agency said in a news release. No details were available Tuesday about a possible motive in the case, according to Lt. Jake Parker.

According to family members, the boy killed was Davone Burnett. His sister created a GoFundMe page to assist the family.

“We are trying to raise money for his funeral,” the fundraising page states. “Anything will help.”

Police have obtained five arrest warrants, including felony murder, for Perkins, who was not in custody Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities said Perkins should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911.

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About the Authors

Tanni Deb, a Michigan native, is a content producer for the AJC, primarily covering breaking news, crime and public safety. After graduating from Northwestern University, she worked as a TV reporter before producing long-form feature videos on business trends across Africa.

Alexis Stevens is a member of the Crime and Public Safety team.

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