Gwinnett cops charge four in man's killing during supposed drug deal

Gwinnett County police announced Friday that they have charged four men in the death of a fifth during a purported drug deal last weekend in a townhouse near Lawrenceville.

Police responding to a burglary call at about 1:45 p.m. Saturday found Anthony Quinn Johnson Jr., 24, dead of a gunshot wound in a residence on the 2300 block of Bellefonte Avenue.

Officers initially were told that Johnson was an intruder who was shot in self-defense, but an investigation undermined that story.

Johnson was one of three men who went to the Bellefonte address, meeting a man who lived there and another man, for a drug transaction, police said. For reasons not stated, gunfire broke out, Johnson was killed and his two companions fled.

Police said the  investigation by Gwinnett detectives led to charges against the following suspects:

• The slain man's companions, Terrance Denson, 21, and Tyrone Thomas, 20, were each charged with conspiracy, aggravated assault and felony murder, as was Donald Bannister, 27, who was at the home when the men arrived.
• Ricardo Linton, 27, the home's resident, was charged with conspiracy.

“Linton and Thomas were arrested early in the investigation and are currently being held without bond,” said Cpl. Jake Smith, Gwinnett police spokesman. “Bannister was apprehended earlier (Friday) thanks to the efforts of the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office fugitive unit.”