Community organizing prayer vigil for Justin Etienne, victim of Skip Day shooting at Denny Dobbs Park in Newton County

NEWTON COUNTY, GA—A prayer vigil is being organized today, March 22, to remember Justin Etienne, a student at Salem High School in Rockdale County.  Etienne, 18, died after he was shot at Denny Dobbs Park, where a crowd of high school seniors from Newton and Rockdale counties were celebrating Skip Day on March 19. 

According to a social media post, organizers are planning to have a candlelight vigil at the park today for the popular soccer player. However, it is unclear if the gathering would be allowed by law enforcement or county officials. 

A mother said earlier this week that students at Salem High were shocked and grieving over the incident. She said her son told her his whole class was crying after they learned that Etienne had died as a result of the shooting. 

Authorities have not stated a motive as the investigation continues.

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office has arrested one suspect in connection with the homicide and said there may be more arrests. That suspect has been identified as Jarvis Hinton Jr., 16, of Covington. 

Hinton, a student at Newton High School, is facing charges of murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a person under the age of 18 and reckless conduct. He is currently in custody at the Newton County Detention Center.

Investigators determined that multiple key witnesses, all students, provided misleading facts regarding the events that happened during Senior Skip Day at the park. Since March 19, investigators have worked through conflicting statements, executed search warrants and gathered evidence, ultimately leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect. As the investigation continues, additional charges, including providing false statements to a law enforcement officer, are pending.

“The successful arrest of this individual shows the continued dedication and commitment of our investigators,” said Sheriff Ezell Brown. “The Office of the Sheriff is dedicated to seeking justice for the victim, Justin Etienne, and his family. My heart goes out to all his loved ones during this time. Additionally, I want to remind the community that providing false information during an investigation is a crime and will lead to legal consequences.”

Sheriff Brown added, “Our course of action and investigation will remain unaffected by what is said or shared on social media. We are dedicated to delivering the highest level of service to our community, regardless of individual opinions. I encourage everyone to be part of the solution and not be the problem. We ask that you avoid spreading negative or false information on social media.”

Sheriff Brown extends his gratitude to the dedicated men and women of NCSO Criminal Investigations Division, Special Investigations Division and Crime Analyst Unit for their tireless efforts in solving this case. He also expresses his gratitude to the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office and its School Resource Officer Unit, as well as the Newton County School System and its School Safety Officers, for their assistance throughout the investigation.