Teen among two dead after gunfire tears through Georgia home during sleepover

A 13-year-old boy was among two people killed after a gunman allegedly fired dozens of shots into a Georgia home where several children had gathered for a sleepover.

The shooting happened during the early morning hours of July 2 at a home on Rockcliff Road in DeKalb County, leaving 13-year-old Demarcus Shirley and 45-year-old Chauncey Newman dead, according to local authorities.

Investigators said several young boys were inside the home for a sleepover when multiple rounds were fired into the residence from outside.

Despite the barrage of gunfire, no other children inside the home were injured.

Remembering Demarcus, his great-uncle Gregory Carthon described the teenager as a bright and energetic young boy with a promising future.

"He seemed eager to learn. Kind of athletic," Carthon told Atlanta News First. "He had a lot of life in front of him."

Authorities later arrested 21-year-old Keyshun Webb in connection with the shooting.

He is being held without bail at the DeKalb County Jail and faces two counts of murder, eight counts of aggravated assault with a weapon and one count of cruelty to animals.

According to arrest warrants cited by Atlanta News First, investigators believe Webb was also involved in another drive-by shooting on the same day.

Authorities said shell casings recovered from both crime scenes matched, and investigators determined that gang involvement was "likely."

Officials allege the shootings involved two vehicles carrying four male suspects. No additional arrests have been announced.

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office has not publicly identified any other suspects as the investigation continues.

Two boys who survived the shooting later spoke about the heartbreaking loss of their friend.

"We had come upstairs, and I had seen him, and I tried to grab him, and he was dead, Demarcus," Larenzo Pinkins told 11Alive.

"I'm happy it wasn't me. I'm happy I wasn't hit, but it should've been me, though, before Demarcus. Demarcus had too much life to live. He died too young."

Another survivor, Larry Bell-Ware, described Demarcus as an ordinary child who enjoyed playing with friends.

"He wasn't in the streets at all," Bell-Ware said. "He's just a funny little kid who liked to run around and play like a normal little kid."

Bell-Ware also remembered Newman as someone who welcomed neighbourhood children into his home whenever they needed a safe place to stay.

"Any kids who were ever just walking around and didn't have anywhere to go, they could just come here," he said. "He was just a good person in general."

The investigation remains ongoing.