About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 2023)
Best of Hall winners gather at Lanier Tech conference center for annual gala. INSIDE, 4A Slain woman’s sister describes her dreams for a better life for her kids. REGION, 1B No. 8 Chestatee anticipates next test in girls basketball playoffs. SPORTS, 1C Weekend Edition - FEBRUARY 24-25,2023 | $2.00 | GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com Honestly Local Jury enters deliberations Man accused of vehicular homicide in crash that killed teen BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com The jury entered deliberations after 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, in the second jury trial for Shannon Beau- ford, a Gainesville man accused of vehicular homicide in a 2020 wreck. Beauford, 28, was indicted in the Oct. 4, 2020, wreck on White Sulphur Road that killed Madison Gray, 17, of Gainesville. Beauford was previously tried before Superior Court Judge Jason Deal, but Deal declared a mistrial after the jury deadlocked. After Beauford chose not to testify, the jury heard closing arguments Thursday afternoon. Defense attorney Janet Smith-Tay- lor, who represented Beauford along with attorney Karen Pass, said the case “shows you what happens when you judge a book by its cover. ” She referenced how deputies at the scene were heard on body camera footage saying that Beauford had pre vious run-ins with law enforcement. “All they were trying to do was come up with something that would fit their prejudgment,” Smith-Taylor said. The defense focused their questions and argument on the prosecution proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Beauford was the one driving. Smith-Taylor mentioned how one of the last people to see Madison alive saw the 17-year-old behind the wheel. The defense has put forth the the ory that Madison was driving. Madison was found in the back seat of the vehicle. Assistant District Attorney Shiv Sachdeva reminded the jury of testi mony from one of the witnesses, who ■ Please see TRIAL, 3A in fatal wreck SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Shannon Beauford sits in Hall County Superior Court Thursday, Feb. 23, during his vehicular homicide trial. ‘A great tribute and honor’ HALL COUNTY, SCOTT ROGERS I The Times American Legion Post 7 Chaplain Minister Devin Pandy speaks Thursday, Feb. 23, at Butler Park in Gainesville during an unveiling ceremony for the Eugene Brown Veteran Memorial at the park. Memorial for Black American veterans unveiled at Butler Park BY BRIAN WELLMEIER bwellmeier@gainesvilletimes.com The Eugene Brown Veterans Memo rial honoring Black Americans native to Hall County who were killed in World War II and the Korean War was unveiled to the public at Butler Park Thursday. Engraved on the memorial is a list of names — those who gave their lives in the line of duty, during a chapter of U.S. history when they weren’t granted full equality under the law. American Legion Post 7 Chaplain Minister Devin Pandy was the first to speak to a crowd of more than two dozen gathered to recognize the historic signifi cance of the monument, which Pandy described in detail. “For generations, segregation kept White and Black Gainesville separate and unequal in life and in death, but today, Gainesvillians are seeing to it that our past is not only not repeated — but also not forgotten,” Pandy said. “Now, maybe, one of these days, we will no longer have the need to recognize Afri can Americans as the first Black Ameri can to accomplish something. Maybe, from here on out, we will all be seen as, referred to and equality acknowledged, simply, as Americans.” “Maybe, one day, we won’t have to have a ‘Black side of town,’ like Gaines ville southside,” he said. "... Perhaps, one day, we will stop honoring those that fought against this country to maintain slavery, and begin honoring those who gave their lives for this country, so that every one of us could live free, even if they themselves did not.” The memorial is named for Eugene Brown, the first Black American killed in World War II, according to Past Post 521 Commander Johnny Varner. “This is in line with Black History ■ Please see MEMORIAL, 3A Ex-FBI agent recalls real Cocaine Bear BY BEN ANDERSON banderson@gainesvilletimes.com The real story of the “Cocaine Bear” isn’t quite stranger than fiction, but the former Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents who worked the case in the 1980s will tell you it’s far more fasci nating than the sensational horror-comedy film that will hit screens Friday. “Cocaine Bear,” directed by Elizabeth Banks and starring Ray Liotta in one of his last films before his death in May, is about a 500-pound bear named Cokie that ingests a “staggering amount of cocaine” and goes on a “coke-fueled rampage for more blow... and blood,” according to a synopsis of the film. In reality, the bear (a female) weighed 175 pounds, ingested a relatively modest amount of ■ Please see BEAR, 3A Woman hurt, suspect fatally wounds self in Buford shooting A Winder man shot a woman Wednesday, Feb. 22, with whom he had a relationship before fatally shooting himself at a Buford warehouse, according to authorities. Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigators said Steven Expose, 32, and the woman were leav ing work around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 900 block of Sherwin Parkway. The Sheriff’s Office said Expose and the woman worked together. After getting into Expose’s vehicle, the two started to argue. When the woman tried to leave the car, Expose shot her. He then returned to the vehicle and shot himself, according to the Sher iff’s Office. The woman, who was not immediately iden tified by law enforcement, was grazed in her stomach, and Expose was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies were called to the area after receiving reports that an injured woman was running into a warehouse in the industrial park. The case is still under investigation. Nick Watson ONLINE INSIDE gainesvilletimes.com/newsletters: Sign up to Advice 2B Opinion 6A receive email newsletters from The Times Calendar 2A Our Region 1B gainesvilletimes.com/apps: Download Classified 6C Sports 1C The Times’ app for a user-friendly online Comics 1D Puzzles 2B experience and app notifications for big stories Life 4C Television 4B 4 0 9 01 06825 9 THE FUTURE OF HEART CARE. WE'RE LEADING GEORGIA THERE GEORGIAHEARTINSTITUTE.ORG/SEAMLESS I 770-746-0073 GEORGIA HEART INSTITUTE
