LIFE SENTENCE FOR MAN CONVICTED IN DOUBLE HOMICIDE

Teenage Victim Innocent Bystander in Fatal Shooting

Atlanta- Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces a conviction by guilty plea in the murder case against 28-year-old Deangelo Gales. Gales was sentenced to life in prison plus twenty years to run concurrently following plea proceedings on charges of Murder and voluntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of two men: Henry Bryant, age 33 and Deaun Davis, 16.

The incident happened on May 24, 2010 outside a Selwin Avenue home in Atlanta. According to witnesses, Defendant Gales and Henry Bryant, who had been engaged in on-going disputes about various matters, were once again arguing with one another. Victim Bryant then drew a weapon on the defendant but set it aside when the weapon jammed. Instead of letting the feud subside, Defendant Gales left the scene to retrieve a weapon from his car. He returned, opening fire-striking an innocent teenager bystander, who stumbled into a nearby grassy area and died. Henry Bryant, the Defendant’s intended target, was also struck during the initial gun fire. Once Bryant fell to the ground, the defendant stood over the victim and shot him seven more times until he was fatally wounded. Gales fled the scene in his car and was later arrested on murder warrants.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kelly Amanda Lee presided over the case.

It was prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Fani Willis with assistance from ADA JaDawnya Butler and Senior DA Investigator Olyemphis Huff. Detective S. Benton with the Atlanta Police Department led the initial investigation.

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