Guilty plea in 2022 murder at General Mills:

This morning, just before jury selection began, Jalen Brown pleaded Guilty but mentally ill to Felony Murder, 3 counts of Aggravated Assault, 3 counts of Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. These offenses arose from the Defendant shooting and killing his coworker, Zachary Foster on May 29, 2022 at General Mills in Covington.

Brown was sentenced to Life in Prison plus 5 years. Georgia law provides that someone pleading guilty but mentally ill will receive the same sentence as someone that pleads guilty. However, for a defendant that pleads guilty but mentally ill, the law provides the Department of Corrections ability to refer a defendant for temporary hospitalization to a facility operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Such a facility will still be a secure facility. The defendant must also meet the legal definition of mentally ill.

Zachary Foster

Prior to the date of the crimes, the Defendant had been acting increasingly paranoid. This was due to mental health issues but aggravated by the Defendant's drug use. On May 29, 2022, the Defendant brought a handgun with him to work. Supervisors approached the Defendant to address his behavior, but the Defendant ran to a different area of the plant, obtained his firearm from a bag, and shot and killed Foster.

Brown then fled General Mills. A coworker pursued trying to keep sight of him. As Brown fled, another individual saw Brown running down the road with a firearm. That individual stopped his car and began to back up away from Brown. Brown then fired again at both the coworker and the person in the vehicle. Just after this shooting, Covington Police Officers quickly arrived and took Brown into custody.

Jalen Brown

Brown was interviewed and admitted to shooting Foster. During this interview, he also expressed hearing voices and paranoia (about things that had not actually happened). Two days later, a bag was found near General Mills. That bag contained several forms of identification belonging to the Defendant and more than 14 ounces of marijuana.

The prosecution was led by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jillian Hall as well as Assistant District Attorney Madison Caito, Investigator Colin Cunningham, Victim Advocates Madison Sanders and Sophie Conner, Trial Assistant Danielle Miller, and Legal Assistant Desiree Kozikowski. The arrest and investigation were handled by the Covington Police Department with assistance from the GBI Crime Lab.