3 men learn their fate after Douglas County Sweet 16 shooting that left 2 dead

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — Three men convicted in a shooting at a Douglas County Sweet 16 party in March 2023 that left two teenagers dead have now been sentenced to prison.

Kingston Cottman, Timothy Coleman Jr. and Tahkel Beverly Smart were found not guilty on murder charges last month. Cottman and Coleman were convicted of aggravated assault, gang and gun charges. Smart was convicted of a single gang charge.

Channel 2′s Tom Jones was in the Douglas County courtroom when all three men learned their sentences.

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Smart was sentenced to 20 years in prison for violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

Cottman and Coleman were sentenced to a collective 320 years in prison on all of the charges they were convicted of.

The courtroom erupted into cheers when the sentences were announced.

Samuel Moon, 15, and Aj’anaye Hill, 14, were killed in the shooting prosecutors have described as a gang shooting. Eight other teens were wounded in the shooting.

“The devil comes to steal to kill and destroy and that’s what you’ve done,” Beverly La Fleur, Moon’s mother, said before the sentences were handed down.

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Four other defendants have already pleaded guilty. Michael Williams is serving a life sentence for murder. Noah Bradley received 20 years with five years to serve. Chance and Chase McDowell received probation.

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