Suspects in fatal shooting at Sweet 16 party in Douglasville must be sentenced

DOUGLASVILLE, Georgia. – Three men accused of carrying out a shooting at a “Sweet 16” birthday party in Douglasville that left two teenagers dead and several others injured are scheduled to appear before a judge on Friday for sentencing.

The fatal shooting occurred on the night of March 4 at a home on Skitka Drive, authorities said.

More than 100 people attended the Sweet 16 birthday party. Eventually, the guests were kicked out by the homeowners after they discovered some of the teens smoking marijuana. Shortly after the guests were asked to leave, the fire started.

Homeowner Chrystal Walker-Cherry told FOX 5 the shooter or shooters were not on their party list because they were waiting in a car up the street. She said they did not know the address of the house where the party was to be held and were waiting for the children to leave.

The shooting left 15-year-old Samuel Moon and 14-year-old Aj'anaye Hill dead. Seven other teenagers were injured.

Investigators claimed the shooting was planned as a “gang killing,” but stressed that Moon and Hill were not the intended targets.

In the months that followed, detectives arrested seven people in connection with the shooting. Three of the suspects, Michael Williams, Noah Bradley and Kingston Cottman, are expected to face convictions.

Kingston Cottman (Douglas County Sheriff's Office) (Douglas County Sheriff's Office)

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Bradley, 21, was the last man arrested in connection with the case. He is charged with three counts of murder, 11 counts of aggravated assault, seven counts of aggravated battery, 13 counts of participating in criminal gang activity, 11 counts of possession of a firearm and three counts of first-degree criminal damage to property.

He is accused of two counts of murder, two counts of membership in a criminal street gang, ten counts of grievous bodily harm and eleven counts of grievous bodily harm.

Two of the suspects, twin brothers Chase and Chacne McDowell, reportedly pleaded guilty to lesser charges earlier this year. The other men involved face multiple counts of murder and several other charges.

They have been held in the Douglas County Jail without bail since their arrest.