On Thursday, a DeKalb County man was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional five years for the murder of his former high school girlfriend after she ended their relationship, per the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.
Deeron Hicks, 25, was found guilty of several charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The charges stem from the November 2022 shooting of Ja’Nautica Whitehead, a 19-year-old who had recently enrolled in college and was working to distance herself from Hicks.
Whitehead was fatally shot in the head on November 25, 2022, while sitting in her car. Investigators revealed that Hicks had followed her as she drove to work that morning. After repeatedly calling her, Whitehead pulled over, where Hicks confronted her and fired the fatal shot.
The next day, Whitehead’s body was discovered in her car, which had been left in a wooded area off Snapfinger Parkway, police said. Hicks was arrested on December 17, 2022, and has remained in custody ever since.
According to authorities, the relationship between Hicks and Whitehead had become violent in the months leading up to her death. Investigators found that Hicks had physically assaulted and strangled Whitehead on multiple occasions and had also threatened her with a firearm. Two weeks before the fatal shooting, Hicks reportedly confronted Whitehead at her workplace, strangled her, and chased her with a gun.
This case highlights a tragic escalation of violence that culminated in Whitehead’s untimely death. With his sentencing, Hicks faces life in prison, ensuring he is held accountable for the devastating loss of a young life.
