Douglasville Sweet 16 party shooting: 2 suspects take plea deals, 2 head to trial
DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. - Four men accused of a shooting at a Douglasville Sweet 16 birthday party that killed two teens and injured several others are set to go before a judge to be sentenced on Friday. Only two accepted plea deals being offered by prosecutors.
Michael Williams pleaded guilty to several charges, including two counts of felony murder and a gang charge. Judge Beau McClain sentenced Williams to life with the possibility of parole after 30 years, plus five years.
Noah Bradley settled for two counts of aggravated assault. He received a 20-year sentence to serve five years.
Noah Bradley, charged in connection to a 2023 shooting at a Sweet 16 in Douglasville, appears in Douglas County courtroom on Aug. 16, 20 (FOX 5)
In court on Friday, prosecutors unveiled a narrative on how they believe the shooting took place. The state alleges a Cobb County-based gang known as DBG showed up at the sweet 16 party looking for a teen who allegedly posted something negative about a deceased gang member. Prosecutors say the intended target was never shot, just innocent bystanders.
Two suspects chose to forgo a deal. Kingston Cottman and Tahkel Beverly-Smart will go to trial on September 30.
Michael Williams, charged in connection to a 2023 shooting at a Sweet 16 in Douglasville, appears in Douglas County courtroom on Aug. 16, 2024. (FOX 5)
Sweet 16 shooting in Douglasville kills 2 teens
On March 4, 2023, 10 children, each an unintended victim, were shot at a sweet 16 party at a home on Skitka Drive. More than 100 people attended the Sweet 16 birthday party. Eventually, attendees were kicked out by the homeowners after discovering some of the teenagers were smoking marijuana. Shortly after the attendees were told to leave, the gunfire started.
Kingston Cottman (Douglas County Sheriff's Office) (Douglas County Sheriff's Office)
Two teens, 14- year-old Ajanaye Hill and 15-year-old Samuel Moon, were killed. Seven other teens were wounded.
Investigators alleged the shooting was meant to be "a gang hit" but said Moon and Hill were not the intended targets.
Samuel Moon, 15, and Aj’anaye Hill, 14, were shot and killed when a gunman opened fire on attendees at a Sweet 16 party in Douglasville on March 5, 2023.
Homeowner Chrystal Walker-Cherry told FOX 5 that the shooter or shooters were not on her party list because they waited in a car up the road. She said they didn't know the address of the house for the party and were waiting for the children to leave.
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Two of the suspects, twin brothers Chase and Chacne McDowell, reportedly pled guilty to lesser charges earlier this year. The other men involved are facing multiple murder charges and several other counts.
They have remained in custody at the Douglas County Jail without bond since their arrests.