Covington teen sought in stepfather's murder as mother urges surrender

Mother pleads for son to turn himself in

The mother of the Covington teenager accused of killing his stepfather is pleading with him to turn himself in. The Newton County Sheriff's Office says Jayden Daniel should be considered armed and dangerous.

COVINGTON, Ga. - A Newton County family is reeling after a tragic shooting that claimed the life of a husband and left a teenage stepson on the run.

What we know:

Deputies say 41-year-old David Gay was shot and killed Tuesday night inside the family’s home on Avery Drive in Covington. Authorities have identified the suspect as 16-year-old Jayden Daniel, Gay’s stepson, who fled the scene in Gay’s Cadillac Escalade following the shooting. The vehicle was later found abandoned at Denny Dobbs Park, but Daniel remains missing.

Gay’s wife, who is also Daniel’s mother, spoke exclusively with FOX 5’s Angelique Proctor just hours after the tragedy. Visibly heartbroken, she made an emotional plea for her son to turn himself in.

"Please turn yourself in," Kennethia Gay said through tears. "This is the ultimate breaking point for me. I said I couldn’t lose another child. I lost my husband, and now I really can’t lose another child."

She described David Gay as a devoted husband and stepfather who deeply loved his family, including Daniel.

"David loved you. He loved me. He loved Kennedy. He loved his family. He loved like you guys were his own," she said. "So if you see this—or if anybody sees this who has any information or who can contact Jayden—please let him know that I love him."

The grieving mother has endured more heartbreak than most. Last year, her other son, Kendarrius Spear—a college student and former high school basketball star—was also killed in a separate act of gun violence.

Now, she’s mourning the death of her husband and fearing for the future of her remaining son.

What they're saying:

Officials with the Newton County Sheriff's Office say they were called to Avery Drive in Covington shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday after reports of a person shot.

When deputies got to the scene, they found the body of 41-year-old David Gay in his home.

Investigators say that Gay was killed by Daniel, his stepson. Authorities believe Daniel fled the area in a 2016 Cadillac Escalade belonging to his stepfather.

The vehicle was later found near Denny Dobbs Park, but Daniel was not in the area.

16-year-old wanted for death of stepfather

Newton County deputies are searching for 16-year-old Jayden Daniel, accused of fatally shooting his stepfather, David Gay, in Covington.

Kennethia Gay told FOX 5 Atlanta that she was not at home at the time of the shooting and doesn't know what happened between her husband and son. 

What you can do:

 Investigators say Daniel should not be approached. If you have any information about where he could be, call 911 immediately.

Death of suspect's older brother

The backstory:

FOX 5 Atlanta confirmed earlier in the day that the 16-year-old suspect is the younger brother of 19-year-old Kendarrius Spear, a former high school basketball star and college student at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who was killed last June at an apartment complex in Lithonia.

FOX 5's Deidra Dukes spoke with the mother of Kendarrius and Jayden in December, as she and her husband were in the process of creating a foundation in Kendarrius’ memory. The purpose of the organization was to empower youth through nonviolence, academics, education, and community service.

At that time, the family also pleaded with the public for help in locating Jordan Finnissee, who was Kendarrius’ best friend at the time of his death and is allegedly connected to the case. Two suspects were arrested shortly after the 19-year-old's death, but as of December, Finnissee had not been located. FOX 5 is working to determine whether he remains a person of interest or suspect in the case.

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