News 12 First at Five, October 2, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.---Several suspects are still on the run, but investigators say they now have leads as to who killed 23-year-old Jezreel Hammond during a home invasion.

Authorities were called to Hammond's home at 2806 Royal Street around 3 o'clock this morning. That's near Walton Way and Highland.

Hammond lived at the home with his grandmother. She was at home at the time, and witnessed the whole thing, but she was not injured.

"I tell you it's pitiful! It's pitiful!" Mary Lyons watched it all unfold from her porch after she heard a knock at the door. "She was screaming! She was screaming! And she was hollering my son! My son! The done killed my son!"

Lyons says Hammond's grandmother was inconsolable as she told them what happened. "Told him if he didn't give over the money, they'd kill the grandmother. That's awful. That's awful."

That's when Mary says Jezreel Hammond answered -- "He said I don't have no money. They beat him and throw him upside the house and beat him and shot him she said she don't know how many shots. She said he took two deep breaths -- gone that quick."

And so were the suspects. Deputies spent the morning posting fliers around the neighborhood and spreading the word about a cash reward, hoping it will pay off and break the case.

"Just with all the break ins and everything, you anticipate other people getting broken into, not shot." This young mother and neighbor who did not want to be identified says her home burglarized this year.

Now that the crime spree has turned deadly arrests can't come soon enough, especially for Mary "I hope and trust the good lord they be caught. Can't run forever."

Investigators are still tracking down leads tonight. Right now, they don't have any suspects, or motive and they don't know if this is an isolated incident or connected with any other recent crimes. They are offering a cash reward.

Hammond was on parole from the Georgia prison system for a marijuana conviction. State records indicate he was granted parole November 27, 2007 after serving about 15 months of his sentence.
His parole was to end in 2016.