16-year-old arrested for May murder of Covington stepfather; family reacts
Teen arrested in stepfather's shooting death
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 16-year-old Jayden Daniel, the teen accused of fatally shooting his stepfather, David Gay, in May.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - The Newton County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 16-year-old Jayden Daniel, the teen accused of fatally shooting his stepfather, David Gay, in May.
Jayden Daniel. Courtesy of Newton County Sheriff's Office
What we know:
Daniel was taken into custody on the morning of July 17 in DeKalb County with the help of the U.S. Marshals Service. He had been on the run since May 13, the day investigators say he shot and killed 41-year-old Gay inside their home on Avery Drive in Covington.
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Deputies responded to the home just after 6 p.m. that evening and found Gay dead from a gunshot wound. A preliminary investigation identified Daniel as the suspect, prompting an extensive manhunt that lasted more than two months.
Daniel now faces multiple charges, including murder, aggravated assault, theft by taking, possession of a handgun by a person under 18, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He has been booked into the Newton County Detention Center.
Sheriff Ezell Brown thanked the U.S. Marshals Service and the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division for their efforts in locating and apprehending Daniel.
In the weeks following the shooting, Gay’s family made emotional pleas for Daniel to turn himself in, saying they could not find peace while he remained free. Gay’s sister, Talisha Billingslea, described him as a loving stepfather and devoted provider.
Jayden Daniel. Photo courtesy of Newton County Sheriff's Office
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"My brother didn’t deserve this," she said. "I know for a fact that he did everything he could possibly do to take care of his home. He was a great provider, and right now I feel like a piece of me is gone."
The family had also expressed concern that someone may have been helping Daniel avoid arrest and urged anyone with information to contact the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.
What they're saying:
FOX 5 spoke exclusively to members of David Gay’s family on Thursday about how they’re feeling now that Daniel is behind bars.
"This was the biggest birthday gift I could ask God for," said Gay’s sister Talisha Billingslea. "I feel like a load has been lifted. I feel like I'm at peace knowing that his killer is not hiding and running anymore."
Gay was known to his family and friends as "Tank."
For weeks Billingslea and other family members pleaded with Daniel to turn himself in.
"He did not turn himself in. He probably wasn't planning on turning himself in, but God has a way of doing things. You can hide, but you cannot hide from God," she said.
Daniel is now facing several charges including murder and aggravated assault.
"He will be tried as an adult since it is a murder case," said Caitlin Jett, Communications Director for the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.
Billinsglea says it serves him right.
"He should be. We deserve that. We deserve the justice that we've been looking for. We deserve answers. He should be because we can't get Tank back," Billingslea said.
Now the family say they can focus on remembering and honoring Tank again.
His father, David Gay Sr., said he still had so many plans for him and his son.
He installed a tribute to Tank on his motorcycle.
Photo courtesy of family
"So, he will always be with me everywhere I go, especially when I'm on that bike," Gay Sr. said.
What we don't know:
The Newton County Sheriff's Office did not provide details on how they located Daniel. They also did not say if anyone else is facing charges for helping Daniel evade police.
At this time, it is not known when the teen will make his first court appearance.