District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Dillon Andrews, 28, of Townsend, GA, was found guilty of Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm during Commission of a Felony. The criminal jury trial in Glynn County Superior Court started on June 26, 2023, and ended on June 29, 2023, following 4 hours of jury deliberation. Andrews was acquitted of an additional count of Aggravated Assault.
The evidence presented at trial showed that on September 26, 2020, around 2am, the defendant Dillon Andrews and two of his friends had been customers at the Red Carpet Lounge on F Street in Brunswick. After leaving the establishment ahead of his friends, Andrews, who was intoxicated, passed out in the front seat of their vehicle, which was parked down the street. Shortly thereafter, bouncers attempted to clear the street so the dancers could safely leave. The victim in the case, whose girlfriend was an
employee of the Red Carpet, accompanied the bouncers to back them up in case there were any issues. Andrews’ one friend, Scott Davison, refused to leave because he was on a public street. An argument
began between Davison and bouncer Brandon Heath. Heath then hit Davison and a fight started between them. An altercation also began between Andrews’ other friend and one of the other bouncers. During that fight, a belt was wrapped around the bouncer’s neck.
Andrews then awoke, grabbed a semi-automatic handgun that was in the vehicle, stepped out and fired
a warning shot in the air. This stopped the fights and several people ran away. Andrews then fired what
he called another warning shot at the victim who was several yards away because he was scared of him.
However, in his testimony at trial, Andrews admitted that he had not seen the victim fight anyone, and
that the victim was unarmed and was several yards away walking in his direction. Andrews said he was
scared because the victim was bigger than he was and had made a comment about not being afraid of
his gun.
Andrews’ second shot struck the victim in the leg. Upon realizing he had been shot, the victim went into
“fight or flight” mode and decided to fight to protect himself and others. He charged at Andrews and in
the ensuing scrum, was shot again in the chest, his arm and his other leg. The victim then staggered away and collapsed on the ground. He was rushed to hospital in Jacksonville where he underwent two emergency surgeries. He had to have part of one lung removed and suffered nerve damage to his arm that ended his career as a commercial electrician. Also wounded during the shooting was Davison who was struck by bullets in both legs, and Andrews himself who shot off his own finger.
Following the shooting, Andrews and his two friends fled in their vehicle but were soon stopped by Brunswick Police. Andrews’ initial statements were that he was asleep in the vehicle when someone stuck a gun in his face and shot his hand. He then said he grabbed the gun. It was only during a hearing in the case last year that he raised his self-defense story.
According to Chief Assistant District Attorney Nigel Lush, who prosecuted the case for the State, “Justice was done for the victim and the community in this case. It is sad that Mr. Andrews, an otherwise law-abiding citizen, made a very bad choice while under the influence of alcohol. He brought a gun to a fistfight and misjudged the situation. This was not a life or death struggle. The victim had done nothing. Andrews’ actions were not justified. They were unreasonable and excessive. This case stands as a warning to the public that if you are going to use a firearm, you better be damn sure it’s only to prevent the death or serious bodily injury of someone. Because if you are wrong, you will go to prison.”
Sentencing in this case will be held at a later date. Andrews faces up to 25 years in prison.
Sgt. Alan Carter with the Brunswick Police Department was the lead investigator on the case.
Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.
