UPDATE: Albany Police Department makes arrest in Nigel Brown case

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - During a press conference Thursday, Aug. 22, the Albany Police Department (APD) announced an arrest in the Nigel Brown case.

“We have made one arrest of many in the Nigel homicide case”, says Investigator Terrance Bryant.

Gernardric Pittman, 35, has been arrested and charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of certain crimes.

Investigator Bryant explains that the arrest was made possible by a woman coming forward with video that she had retrieved from another individual.

Nigel Brown, 9, was killed in a late-night drive-by shooting in Albany in August 2021.

The drive-by shooting happened around 11 p.m. on Aug. 8. Nigel was in bed sleeping when a vehicle passing through the area opened fire. Nigel was shot in the head.

Investigators say they know for sure that this drive-by shooting was motivated by gang violence.

Since then, the Good Life City has rallied behind Brown’s family. Protests have been held, rewards have been offered, fundraisers have been organized, and a new law has even been introduced.

Following the announcement, Nigel Brown’s mother, Yolander Brown-Ford, expressed gratitude for these much-needed answers.

Investigator Bryant says that have more individuals as persons of interest in this case, but he is not able to release any more names at this time.

Brown-Ford shared a message for other families who have lost a loved one to similar violence.

“He’s not here but I know he’s smiling down on us...” Yolander said while fighting through her tears.

An emotional morning as the family of Nigel Brown received closure to a three-year case. Nigel Brown was shot and killed in his home while he was asleep in what police say was a gang-related drive-by shooting.

“It’s something that we’ve been praying for three years now. Apart of me is happy, a part of me is sad, you know my emotions are everywhere right now,” Brown said.

Brown says she couldn’t have gotten through the past three years without her support system from her family to the community of Albany.

“Me and my family had sleepless nights. When I first got the news last night about apprehending the suspect, me and my family cried because it’s been a long time coming. We’ve been asking the community if you see something say something so to get to this point, it’s overwhelming.” says Tracy Taylor, President of The Dougherty County NAACP

“I can actually close my eyes tonight and get a good night’s rest knowing that one of his killers is off the streets,” Brown said.

After his picture came down off of billboards, Nigel’s grandmother says that this trailer here has been her “Hope on Wheels”, as she drives throughout the United States keeping Nigel’s story alive.

“These are names that were written by family members of loved one’s lives that were taken senselessly to gun violence. Our goal is to have this trailer wrapped all the way around with ribbons of names,” says Nigel’s grandmother, Shabrina Brigham. “So far, this trailer has been to Tennessee, Miami, Florida and different parts of Georgia. We want the world to know about the senseless gun violence that has taken our loved ones away,” Brigham said.

Brigham says anyone who lost a family member or loved one to gun violence and wants their name posted on the trailer with an orange ribbon, call 706-580-2035.

If you have any other information that can help investigators identify other people involved in this case, please call the Albany Police Department at 229-431-2100 or leave an anonymous tip at 229-436-TIPS.

Click here for all previous coverage of Nigel Brown’s case.

WALB will keep you up to date on this case.

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