Lawrenceville, Georgia – A man from Lawrenceville was found guilty on Friday for the shooting and killing of two family members during a dispute in 2022 that turned into a shootout. Bernie Ray Mack, 63, was convicted by a Gwinnett County jury on charges of malice murder, voluntary manslaughter, two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of gun possession during a felony.
The incident occurred on May 5, 2022, when Gwinnett County Police responded to reports of an active shooter at the intersection of Harbor Bay Drive and Chandler Road. The dispute, which began days earlier between Mack, his wife Bridget Pearl Brooks-Mack, Mack’s stepdaughter Briana Santos, and her husband Jeremy Santos, escalated when Mack shot his spouse at their residence.
After the shooting, Mack fled the scene, and Briana and Jeremy Santos arrived to find Briana’s mother dead. As they called the authorities and drove away with their children in the car, they encountered Mack returning in his vehicle. Jeremy Santos, armed with a handgun, fired at Mack’s car.
Mack then pursued the Santos vehicle, leading to a foot chase between Mack and Jeremy Santos. Witnesses observed Mack shooting Jeremy Santos multiple times before being persuaded by a neighbor to relinquish his weapon. Mack remained at the scene until law enforcement arrived and apprehended him.
As a result of his actions, Mack was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, in addition to a 30-year term. The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic disputes that escalate to violence, leaving families shattered and communities in mourning.