Cobb Teen Gets 20 Years for Shooting Man on Christmas

A 19-year-old Marietta man will spend the next two decades in prison following his conviction on charges related to a shooting in Marietta on Christmas Day in 2013, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Tadarius “Grits” Williams was found guilty of aggravated assault and aggravated battery for shooting Jermarcus Thompson outside the Crescent Square apartments on Austell Road following a fight with a girl. Thompson survived the shooting, but has undergone several surgeries in its aftermath.

Williams was not located and arrested in April, but professed his innocence to authorities. Once he was locked up in the Cobb County jail, however, he admitted on a phone call to a friend that he was going to be spending a long time behind bars. Additionally, Williams’ cell mate testified in court that he and Williams had discussed killing witnesses in the trial.

“What innocent person – someone who wasn’t anywhere near the scene, as he claims – is resigned to going to prison for years?” Assistant District Attorney Courtney M. Veal asked jurors during closing arguments. “Who talks about killing witnesses if they’re innocent?”

Following Williams’ conviction, Superior Court Judge Reuben Green sentenced him to serve 20 years in prison for his crime.