Georgia Teen Charged In Murder Of 17-Year-Old Found Dead In Basketball Court

An 18-year-old has been arrested and charged with the murder of a Georgia teenager in October.

Shamuel Benjamin was arrested Wednesday by the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office for fatally shooting 17-year-old Timothy Buchanan at a basketball court in Lawrenceville, a Georgia subdivision.

Benjamin reportedly faces charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and firearm possession. He was booked into Gwinnett County Jail, Fox News reported.

The two teenagers had met to complete a drug transaction, according to deputies.

Buchanan was found shot dead on Oct. 2 near a subdivision's basketball court, according to Gwinnett Police.

Officers said the perpetrator fled the scene immediately after firing, WSB-TV reported.

"Detectives do have several leads on this case, so they are following up on that now as we speak," Sergeant Jenniger Richter, of the Gwinnett County Police Department, said during the initial investigation, Fox5 reported.

Homicide investigators interviewed people who lived near the basketball court, including kids who may have been outside at the time the incident happened.

Neighbors were surprised about the violence. "They were just being kids playing basketball. You didn't think they were packing," Justin, a person who lives near the crime spot, told Fox5.

Over a month ago, a 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the shooting of a 15-year-old in Georgia, WJCL reported. The victim, identified as Junior Hampton, was found with gunshot wounds at a home on Ponderosa Drive.

Junior was taken to South Georgia Medical Center but was later pronounced dead.

The suspect, who was not identified, was immediately taken into custody the following day. He was detained at a Regional Youth Detention Center on the charges of malice murder-felony, felony murder-felony, aggravated assault-felony, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, felony and possession of a handgun by a person under the age of 18.

"This incident is heartbreaking and our condolences go out to the victim's family. This senseless act of violence has affected many lives, it should have never occurred," said Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan.