The two teens arrested in connection with the fatal house party shooting on Saturday were denied bond today in Rockdale County Magistrate Court.
James Edwards, 17, of Conyers, was brought out first in an orange jump suit and wrist and ankle shackles. Tevin Williams, 17, of Conyers, was brought out after Edwards and was also in a jumpsuit and shackles.
Public defense attorney Charles Gasner acknowledged the gravity of the case.
“This is obviously a very serious situation with very serious charges,” said Gasner. “We do not dispute that at all. We would ask the court to set a reasonable bond on the charges at this time.”
Gasner said Edwards lived in the county with his mother and sister, had completed his GED and was looking at enrolling in ITT Tech. Williams lived in the county as well with his mother, father and older sister and was working on his GED, said Gasner.
Assistant District Attorney Blair Lawhon said Edwards and Williams would not be good candidates for bond, especially with the seriousness of the charges and the case still being under investigation.
“That’s simply not a risk this court should be willing to take,” she said.
Magistrate Court Judge Clarence Horne agreed. The suspects had taken on the chance of killing someone when they shot into a crowd, he pointed out.
“Until I know who’s going to be charged with this murder, I’m not going to give it to either one of them,” he said.
Investigators are awaiting ballistics test results to determine which bullet killed 18-year-old Dequavious Stephon Mapp, a senior at Rockdale County High School. A 16-year-old was also shot in the back and a 15-year-old was shot in the arm.
Edwards and Williams are both charged with aggravated assault, shooting a firearm within 50 feet of a roadway, possession of a firearm by a person under 18, reckless conduct. Williams is also charged with theft by receiving for possession of a stolen gun.
Although Edwards and Williams remained expressionless as they passed each other in the doorway, their eyes searched the audience seats in the magistrate courtroom, which is located in the Rockdale County jail.
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(11/17/10, 4:42 p.m.) The two teens arrested in connection with the fatal house party shooting on Saturday were denied bond today in Rockdale County Magistrate Court.
Tevin A. Williams, 17, of Conyers was charged with aggravated assault, shooting a firearm within 50 feet of a roadway, possession of a firearm by a person under 18, reckless conduct, theft by receiving.
James Edwards, 17, of Conyers was charged with aggravated assault, shooting a firearm within 50 feet of a roadway, possession of a firearm by a person under 18, reckless conduct.
