ARGUMENT LEAVES ONE OF TWO ACQUAINTANCES DEAD

Sephus Jones Wells Sentenced to Life Plus 5 for the Murder of Corey Sinkfield

Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the conviction today of Sephus Jones Wells of Atlanta in the November 21, 2003 murder of Corey Sinkfield, also of Atlanta. A Fulton County Superior Court jury found the 25-year-old defendant guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced by visiting Senior Judge T. Moulton, Jr. to life in prison plus five years to be served consecutively.

The two young men, who grew up together in the Fairburn Road neighborhood where the shooting took place, got into an argument in a parking lot that was broken up by a bystander. During the argument, the defendant pulled a gun on the 23-year-old Sinkfield. A short time later, the defendant again confronted the victim with a gun. An eyewitness to the shooting, who testified at trial, says Wells fired one warning shot. Witness Derrick Gardner told the jury when the victim did not run, the defendant shot him in the face at "point blank" range.

During her victim impact statement, Sinkfield's oldest sister told the Court the death of her brother was "very painful" for her family. Barely able to speak through her tears, she said, "Let this be the end of the gun violence. Let there not be another tattooed tear mark…not another murder…because it destroys families."

The case was tried by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Tanya Miller and Pete Johnson. Atlanta Police Department Detective D. B. Mathis and DA Investigator Antonio Long conducted the investigation. Shantae Wilson served as the victim-witness advocate.

CONTACT: Lyn Vaughn, 404.730.6860 (office); 770.597.6963 (cell); lyn.vaughn@co.fulton.ga.us