News 12 First @ Five -- October 7, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.---Latasha Moore is in disbelief that this manhunt is all for her 16-year old brother Cornelius Antwan Moore.

"I just know the bust up in my mama house looking for my brother and my brother jumped out the window and they was shooting at my brother. I just don't want them to kill my brother," said Latasha Moore, Cornelius' sister.

Deputies are looking for the 16-year-old in connection with the Thursday morning murder of 23-year-old Jezerel Hammond and they're looking everywhere in hopes of finding him.

Investigators have been out all morning searching cars, stopping them, even checking the trunks, searching for the sixteen year old suspect.

"Well they doing their job, that's what they supposed to do and all I can say is I hope they do find him because it wasn't right what he did," said David.

David Hope lives across the street and has been watching the search

"He can run but he can't hide," said David.

And that's something deputies want Moore to know.

"Law enforcement has done a reverse 9-1-1 call in which a broadcast has gone out to everybody's phone in this area," said Inv. James Kelly.

And that call is good information but also has people in the area on edge.

"I can't sit out here with my door unlocked no more, it's not safe to sit out the door," said Vanessa Dunbar who lives in Cherry Tree Crossing.

"Taking a walk in the neighborhood knowing there's a murder suspect in the neighborhood, I don't feel too good about it," said Joe Lewis who lives near Cherry Tree Crossing.

And as the search continues for the 16-year-old, his mother and sister have one last plea.

"Tell him I love him and try to get in touch with me so I can talk him into turning himself in so we can get this all over with," said Jacqueline Johnson, Moore's mother.

"My brother got to face all his time when they do catch him," said Latasha Moore.

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office says they will continue the search until the 16-year-old is caught. They hope finding him will lead to a third suspect in the murder.