TWO LIFE SENTENCES FOR ‘ROBBING’ GUNMAN

Two Men Dead Following Defendant’s Robbing Tirade

Atlanta- Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces a conviction by guilty plea in the double murder case against 25-year old Aaron Byrd of Atlanta. Byrd pled guilty Monday to Murder, Felony Murder, Armed Robbery and weapons charges in connection with two separate 2007 murder cases in Bowen Homes. Byrd was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Marvin Arrington.

Dirul-Islam Manajj, 43, was gunned down on November 16, 2007 while trying to escape Defendant Byrd who was trying to rob him. The victim was shot ten times, robbed of his belongings and then left to die in the parking lot of the housing complex. A month earlier, Gregory Cannon, was also gunned down by Byrd and an accomplice in Bowen Homes after confronting the two men about robbing a friend earlier in the day. Cannon was shot a total of fourteen times and died at the scene. Trial is pending against Joshua Lamarion Brown for his role in the death of Gregory Cannon.

The case against Aaron Byrd was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Dalia Racine of the Major Case Division with assistance from DA Investigators Bernadette Hernandez and Stephen Barresi. APD Detectives Dumas and Willis led the initial investigation.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov