MARIETTA, Ga. — Marietta Police on Friday announced that arrests had been made in the murder of a 17-year-old more than a year ago at a graduation party.
Grayson Green was was shot and killed at the Walton Village Apartments on Roberta Drive in May 2022. Family members called Grayson "energetic and always smiling" and spoke of how he easily made friends.
“He would literally run into 10 different people that knew him or knew of him, and he’d be like, ‘Hey, man! What’s going on? How are you doing?’” Grayson's father Tishamba Green told 11Alive last year.
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Now, two 17-year-olds and a 21-year-old are in custody and charged with murder in the killing of Grayson (who is pictured below).
According to a release, Marietta detectives traveled in late May to Newport News, Virginia, to work with authorities there. That resulted in the arrests of 17-year-old Ne'riyah Vargas and 17-year-old Ne'cquo Vargas. Both are from Cobb County, though MPD did not say if they were related.
Additionally, Marietta Police said 21-year-old Tahkel Beverly Smart, of Paulding County, was also charged. Smart is currently already in custody in Douglas County.
MPD said all three will face the same eight charges of:
- Malice Murder and the corresponding violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
- Felony Murder and the related violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
- Aggravated Assault and the corresponding violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony and the related violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.
Documents show the three have also been indicted on the charges.
"Just over one year ago, we announced the shooting death of seventeen-year-old Grayson Green... Grayson was attending a graduation gathering at the time of the shooting. Detectives have worked countless hours gathering evidence and tracking down suspects. Today, we are thankful to report that the individuals responsible for his death are being held accountable," a Marietta Police statement said.