Three men are convicted in the deadly Sweet 16 shooting in Douglasville

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. – Three men convicted for fatal shooting in… Douglasville Sweet 16 Party in 2023 will hear their sentences on Thursday.

Timothy Coleman, 20, 18 year old Kingston Cottman, and The 23-year-old Tahkel Marquise Beverly-Smart will appear in a Douglas County courtroom for a sentencing hearing.

Coleman and Cottman were found guilty of aggravated assault, violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of an illegal weapon in October.

Beverly-Smart was found guilty of violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

All three men were acquitted of murder.

Kingston Cottman (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)

Two teenagers are killed in a Sweet 16 shooting in Douglasville

On March 4, 2023, more than 100 people attended a Sweet 16 on Sitka Drive in Douglasville. Ultimately, the attendees were kicked out by the homeowners after discovering that some of the teens were smoking marijuana.

Shortly after those present were told to leave, the gunfire began.

Two teenagers, 14-year-old Aj’anaye Hill and 15-year-old Samuel Moon, were killed. Several other teenagers were injured. None of them were the intended target.

Samuel Moon, 15, and Aj’anaye Hill, 14, were shot dead when a gunman opened fire on attendees of a Sweet 16 party in Douglasville on March 5, 2023.

Investigators alleged the shooting was intended as “a gang hit” by a well-known group in Cobb County called DBG.

What led to the Douglasville Sweet 16 shooting?

Superior Court Judge William “Beau” McClain presided over the trial, with evidence pointing to a confrontation sparked by social media comments about the suicide of a fellow gang member.

As they attacked the young man they believed made the comments, they began shooting into the crowd of children with automatic weapons.

Police discovered Flock camera footage linking Coleman and Beverly-Smart to the crime scene in a 2008 Lexus ES350. Cell phone data placed the other suspects in the area at the time of the incident.

Other suspects in Douglasville Sweet 16 shooting

Convictions for murder on sixteen parties

A Douglas County jury has convicted the suspects involved in a fatal shooting at a birthday party. Timothy Coleman and Kingston Cottman are guilty of aggravated assault and breach of the Terrorism and Street Gang Prevention Act. Tahkel Beverly-smart was found guilty of violating the street gang law, but not of assault.

Defendants Michael Williams, Noah Bradley And twin brothers Chase and Chance McDowell entered plea deals earlier this year for reduced charges.

Williams was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years, plus five years. Bradley was sentenced to 20 years, including five years. The twins are released after twelve months of incarceration.