Wayne Co. Sheriff’s Office arrests suspect in deadly shooting

Published: Feb. 7, 2023 at 6:24 PM EST|Updated: Feb. 8, 2023 at 4:25 PM EST
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WAYNE COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - A deadly shooting suspect wanted for several days and considered armed and dangerous in Wayne County has been taken into custody.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office says 29-year-old Lanis Brown ran away from the crime scene after a shooting that killed one person on Friday.

After days of searching, Sheriff Chuck Moseley says they brought Lanis Paul Brown into custody without incident Tuesday.

Deputies responded to the area of Community Circle and Rayonier Road just after 11 a.m. Friday. Sheriff Moseley said the victim, identified as Zakkary Johnson, was found dead at the scene and the suspect was on the run – launching a days-long search that ended Tuesday evening.

“He actually was arrested at a local restaurant. One of my investigators walked in and told him, ‘we need to talk,’ and he was taken into custody without incident,” Sheriff Chuck Moseley said.

Moseley says Lanis Brown was arrested and booked in Wayne County but has since been moved.

“He’s actually being housed in a different county for his safety, as the deceased may have friends in our jail.”

He maintains that there wasn’t any danger to the public throughout the search.

“Really and truly the whole time, there’s no reason to believe that anyone else with the general public was in harm’s way. We’re thankful we got him. The persistence of our investigators, they got the leads necessary to get him.”

Moseley says portions of this incident remain under investigation.