News

Actions

Suspect in teen killing shakes severely at his first hearing

Posted

ATLANTA (AP) -- The suspect accused of killing two teenagers in an Atlanta suburb appeared before a judge for the first time Friday with his hands, wrists and legs shaking continuously.

Jeffrey Hazelwood, 20, jerked his head around as he shook, and said nothing to the judge at his first hearing at the Fulton County Jail, video from WSB-TV showed (http://2wsb.tv/2azsp9t).

Hazelwood was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of murder in the killings of Carter Davis and Natalie Henderson. The 17-year-olds were each shot once in the head.

Hazelwood also mumbled to himself during the hearing and appeared to pet an imaginary animal, WSB reported.

"I can just surmise that being charged with such a heinous crime - that is a terrifying experience," his lawyer, Lawrence Zimmerman, told The Associated Press after Friday's hearing.

Zimmerman said he just recently joined the case, and has yet to learn details of the allegations.

A judge denied bond for Hazelwood, whose next court hearing is set for Aug. 19.

Shortly before Hazelwood appeared before the judge, classmates, friends and relatives of Henderson gathered Friday at a Roswell church for her funeral.

Henderson was funny, compassionate and incredibly giving, said her friend Alex Macchione, one of hundreds of mourners at the service.

"She did what she could to make you feel better. She would always make you laugh and she had the most beautiful smile you would see on somebody," Macchione told WSB. "She just cared about everybody all the time."

Investigators have the silver Honda Passport that belongs to Hazelwood, Roswell police said in a statement. But they say they're still hoping to hear from people with who may have seen it around the time of the killings as they continue to investigate.

Police have declined to discuss a possible motive for the killings, nor would they comment on the relationship, if any, between Hazelwood and the teens.

Henderson would have been a senior this year at Roswell High School.

Davis had lived in Rapid City, South Dakota, during part of his high school years before moving to Georgia. He was about to start his senior year at River Ridge High School in Cherokee County.