Jesup man convicted of manslaughter

JESUP, Ga. (WSAV)—A Jesup man was found guilty of second-degree murder by a Wayne County jury on Wednesday.

Lanis Brown, 32, of Jesup, was convicted on charges of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to a news release from the Brunswick Judicial Circuit Attorney’s Office. The charges stem from the death of Zakkary Johnson, 24, also of Jesup.

The jury took three hours to return their guilty verdicts. Brown was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 10 years probation.

According to the DAO, evidence presented at trial showed that Brown had been using methamphetamine for three days when he and Johnson got into an altercation that led to Johnson’s death. Brown traveled to a barn on Community Circle in Jesup prior to the altercation, where he used methamphetamine with a woman and two other people.

When Johnson arrived, they began arguing and became physical with each other. After they separated, Johnson continued to argue with Brown when Brown pulled out a gun and shot Johnson in the chest, the DAO said.

Johnson was mortally wounded and Brown fled shortly thereafter. Brown was arrested four days later.

According to the DAO, Brown admitted to shooting Johnson but claimed he acted in self-defense when questioned by police.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Presley and Assistant District Attorney AJ Smart. The lead investigator was Investigator Bruce Williams of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).