Community Corner

Trio Charged in July Murder at Norcross-Area Apartments

Jovian Lanus, Tyler Estrada and Diara Hood have been charged in the shooting death of Stephen Carden, of Marietta

By Scott Bernarde

Gwinnett County Police Department announced that three people have been charged in the July murder at a Norcross-area apartment complex.

In an emailed media alert sent Wednesday (Nov. 13) afternoon, Gwinnett Police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith said Jovian Lanus, 26, Tyler Estrada, 18 and Diara Hood, 22, have been charged with murder in the shooting death of Stephen Carden, 28, of Marietta at the Celadon Apartments at 6055 South Norcross Tucker Road.

Carden, and another man, Thomas Smith, 28, of Powder Springs, were attacked while walking through the complex around 7 a.m. on July 29, according to police reports. Carden's body was found by police on the ground outside one of the apartment buildings.

Thomas Smith had been struck with a blunt object and was sent to the hospital.

Cpl. Smith wrote in his media alert that all three also face armed robbery charges. More from the police email:

"All three were developed as suspects in the weeks following the homicide.  In November, Hood and Estrada were discovered to be in custody for armed robbery and aggravated assault in DeKalb County for charges made by the DeKalb County Police Department.  Lanus was still at large. 

... On November 8, 2013, the GCPD SWAT Team took Lanus into custody at a home on McCord Livsey Road."


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