Decatur man convicted in shooting and killing of ex-girlfriend, DeKalb County district attorney says

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A Decatur man was convicted in 2022 of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney.

The district attorney said Deeron Hicks, 25, shot Ja'Nautica Whitehead, 19, on Nov. 25, 2022.

According to the district attorney, police found Whitehead's body on November 26, 2022, in a vehicle in a wooded area off Snapfinger Parkway. Whitehead's body was inside and had two gunshot wounds to the head.

According to the district attorney, police learned that Whitehead tried to “distance herself” from Hicks, her high school boyfriend, after she enrolled in college. The district attorney said Hicks “became increasingly violent and controlling” and beat, strangled and threatened Whitehead with a weapon.

Hicks followed Whitehead home from work on November 25, 2022 and shot her twice in the head when she stopped.

Hicks was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced to life in prison plus five years.

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