Man charged with murder in Suwanee drive-by shooting that left woman dead

A man suspected in a drive-by shooting that left a Suwanee woman dead last month now faces a murder charge, according to authorities.

Christian Marcus Ware Lessington, 23, is accused of opening fire on a home on Baxley Village Trail on Nov. 22, killing 45-year-old Nicole Winds Clemons, who was inside at the time. Lessington was taken into custody near the scene, Suwanee police spokesperson Capt. Robert Thompson previously said.

He is suspected of targeting another man but killed the target’s mother instead, Channel 2 Action News reported.

He was initially charged with three counts of aggravated assault. Additional warrants have since been obtained, including for felony murder, criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and a drug charge.

The shooting took place in the private Baxley Point neighborhood around 2:30 a.m., officials said. Police responded to reports of gunshots and found Clemons injured at the scene. She was taken to Northside Hospital Gwinnett but later died from her injuries.

After the shooting, Lessington drove into another car and blew his tire, Channel 2 reported. He tried to get into another car to drive away, but he was apprehended in the neighborhood, according to the news station.

Police did not say who the original shooting target was or why he was being targeted, though Thompson said his agency is investigating the case with help from Duluth and Lawrenceville police.