Shooting deaths of 2 teens in Gwinnett County hit close to home for local pastor

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Two separate shootings in Gwinnett County this month have left two teenagers dead.

Both of the deaths hit close to home for a local pastor.

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Channel 2′s Matt Johnson was in Lawrenceville Thursday, where Pastor Randy Rainwater actually heard the gunshots from one of the shootings.

His church, Grace New Hope, is just around the corner from where a teen was shot to death on a basketball court. Rainwater had never met 17-year-old Timothy Buchanan before he died, but opened the doors of his church to Buchanan’s family and conducted his funeral.

“I really wish before anybody ever thought about doing something like that, they think about holding a mom for two hours as she screams,” Rainwater said. “You’re 17 and life’s ahead of you. And this is this life, this vibrant life, and it’s not in your family now.”

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Two of the last three murders in Gwinnett County in October have left two families grieving dead teens.

Elijah DeWitt, 18, died after two other teens shot him at Sugarloaf Mill mall last week, according to police.

Rainwater said he has friends whose grandchildren were nearby when that shooting happened.

“You shouldn’t have to be in danger to go to a grocery store, or an arcade or a basketball court,” Rainwater said.

Grace New Hope holds weekly events for kids because Rainwater said reaching out to young people could prevent the next tragedy.

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“They’re crying out. They are crying out for people to engage in their lives,” Rainwater said.

Police are still searching for Buchanan’s killer.

Kamare Bryan, 18, and Chandler Richardson, 19, have been arrested in DeWitt’s death.

Family, friends celebrate the life of football star killed outside of Gwinnett Mall On Sunday night, dozens of Dewitt’s friends and family gathered outside of his home in Jefferson, Georgia to remember the young football star.

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