The suspect in a November murder is a convicted felon who was free to commit the killing despite facing unresolved charges for prior gun violence in Richmond County.
De Narian Cobb, 25, has been arrested for the shooting death of 50-year-old Chavious Kemmerlin, who was found fatally shot inside his home on Highland Avenue in Augusta on Nov. 20. Kemmerlin, a beloved member of the community, was remembered for his friendly demeanor and warm smile.
Cobb, a Waynesboro resident, was captured in Burke County three weeks ago. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office – under the leadership of Sheriff Richard Roundtree – did not publicly announce the arrest or the fact they had solved the case. The arrest was disclosed this week by the new command staff under Sheriff Eugene “Gino Rock” Brantley.
Cobb has a lengthy criminal history, including pending charges for a pair of violent shootings in Augusta in May 2021. Authorities say Cobb shot up a home on Bungalow Road twice. The first incident occurred around noon, when Cobb allegedly fired 8-10 shots from the street. He returned later that night and fired nine shots into the living room window, narrowly missing a couple inside who were forced to take cover. No one was injured in either incident.
Cobb was arrested and indicted on three counts of aggravated assault in those shootings. While awaiting trial, he served two years of 10-year prison sentence for unrelated drug and weapons charges in Burke County. After being paroled in September 2023, Cobb remained free despite the unresolved charges in Richmond County.
District Attorney Jared Williams has yet to bring the 2021 shooting case to trial.
