HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Five people have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of an 8-year-old boy in central Georgia.

Jermarrion Pachino Cherry was shot outside his Houston County home on March 25 as he sat inside a car with his siblings.

Police said a car pulled outside the home and opened fire.

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Cherry’s mother told WGXA that her son told his siblings to run inside when the shots rang out and then jumped on top of a young girl to protect her.

Cherry was shot in the head and died at Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in Atlanta days later.

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The Houston County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Bryce Michael Crosby, 20; Lenny Gupton Jr., 19; Ricky Aubry McChargue, 21; Chase Jeffrey Watson, 20; and Savannah McGahee, 17 in connection to Cherry’s death. All five face murder charges and are being held without bail.

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It’s unclear whether the car Cherry was inside was the intended target.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Greg Pennycuff at 478-542-2085.

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