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2 arrested in murder of father of 3 children
She lost her son to gun violence. Now, a grieving mother is turning her pain into purpose. Andre Jones, a 29-year-old, was shot and killed outside a Norcross hotel earlier this month. On Friday, Gwinnett police announced an arrest in the case.
NORCROSS, Ga. - The mother of a man shot and killed outside a Norcross hotel earlier this month is speaking publicly for the first time, describing her grief as unbearable and calling for community action against gun violence.
SEE ALSO: 2 charged with murder in killing of man at Gwinnett County hotel, police say
What they're saying:
Gerrica Wilson says the arrests of two suspects in the murder of her son, 29-year-old Andre Jones, bring little comfort.
"There's no comfort that I'll ever get. Even when you are sentenced, there will be no comfort," Wilson said. "Your family will still be able to talk to you. They'll be able to visit you. We won't have Andre."
Jones, a father of three, was with a friend at the Horizon Inn and Suites in Norcross when he was shot and killed two weeks ago. On Friday, Gwinnett County police announced the arrests of 33-year-old Dametris Bush and 28-year-old Jaharri Foster, both charged with murder in connection to the case.
Wilson says detectives informed her that her son was not the intended target.
"To find out it was a case of mistaken identity—it just opened my heart up. And just like somebody took it out and stomped on it and spit on it. It was the worst feeling ever," she said.
Wilson, who spent the day finalizing funeral arrangements, said the loss has been especially hard on her son’s children.
"The middle one is really struggling. Odin. He's just angry. He's mad," she said. "And, you know, why would somebody take my dad from me?... How do you explain that to a kid? Other than the world has gone mad."
Dametris Bush and Jaharri Foster are facing murder charges. (Gwinnett County Polcie Department)
What's next:
Now, she’s urging the community to come together and take action.
"Since my son's death, I've seen the news and the three or four other people right behind. Back to back to back—gun violence, gun violence. There has to be something we can do as a community."
"I don't want another mother or father or sister or brother or uncle [or] aunt to feel this pain," Wilson said. "It's senseless."
The Source: FOX 5's Deidra Dukes spoke with the mother of 29-year-old Andre Jones. Additional details were provided by the Gwinnett County Police Department and previous FOX 5 Atlanta reports.