An argument over a stay at home order between a Georgia teenager, his mother and stepfather ended in tragedy after midnight last night in southwest Atlanta. During the incident, 16-year-old De’Onte Roberts was shot multiple times by his stepfather, Bernie Hargrove, 42.
According to WSB-TV, Roberts kicked in the front door of the family’s home and punched Hargrove in the face. After being shot several times, including at least once in the chest, Roberts was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital. He died there from his injuries.
CNN reported that the argument began earlier in the day after Roberts refused to follow the stay at home order at the request of his parents. It was when he returned home that the dispute grew violent.
After detaining and questioning Hargrove at the Atlanta police headquarters, homicide detectives charged him with felony murder. Hargrove was arrested early Thursday morning and taken to the Fulton County Jail.
WSB-TV’s Tom Jones spoke with a friend of Roberts, Kira Cade, who said some teens don’t understand how imperative it is to stay home.
According to CNN, Georgia implemented its shelter-in-place orders to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus later than most states.
Aside from potentially endangering high-risk individuals, the consequences of violating stay at home orders include having to pay sizable fines or earning a mark on your criminal record. San Francisco has begun enforcing citations on citizens who fail to follow social distancing policies.
Individuals who appear to be deliberately spreading the virus face much worse. For instance, an individual purposely coughing on groceries or on other people (even as a prank) can be charged with terrorism and face up to five years in prison.