ON-GOING ARGUMENT BETWEEN RIVALS ENDS IN MURDER

Defendant Convicted, Sentence Pending

Atlanta- Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the conviction by jury trial in the murder case against 50-year old Christopher Boyd of Atlanta. Jurors began deliberations this morning and returned with guilty verdicts on multiple counts against Boyd including Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault and weapons charges for the shooting death of Puckett Baynes, 48.

Baynes was shot and killed on August 10, 2009 on Poland Street in an area of Atlanta known as “The Bluff.” The victim and defendant had a history of on-going verbal disputes about various issues and on the day of the shooting had argued about money owed to the victim. When the victim confronted the defendant later in the day, the defendant pulled a gun, shot the victim four times, (twice in his back) and fled the scene. Defendant Boyd was arrested two days after the shooting inside a nearby vacant house where he was hiding. Boyd will be sentenced at a later date by Fulton County Superior Court Judge John J. Goger who presided over the trial.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Clint Rucker with assistance from ADA Hannah Chung and DA Investigator G.G. Carawan. Detective Otts of the Atlanta Police Department led the initial investigation.

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