Donald Watkins Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Tavares Farley

Defendant Found Guilty in 2001 Shooting Death

Atlanta—Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. (Atlanta Judicial Circuit) announces that, following his conviction on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony; Donald Watkins (23) has been sentenced to life in prison plus five years for the 13 October 2001 murder of Tavares Farley (21). The victim encountered Watkins in the Bowen Homes housing project in northwest Atlanta where he had moved to recently. The victim and the defendant had had a fight when the two of them were in middle school some eight years prior, and the defendant, upon encountering the victim again, said, “You think this is over?” and began pursuing him through the complex. Attempting to escape over a fence, Mr. Farley became impaled and, while hanging by his flesh on the fence, was shot twice by the defendant.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Brett Pinion prosecuted the case, Atlanta Police Detective A.B. Calhoun investigated, and Judge Rowland Barnes presided.

CONTACT: Erik Friedly, 404-224-0560 (office); 404-533-1381 (pager)