Man Pleads Guilty for Shooting Police Officer in Smyrna

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A Marietta man will be spending the next several years in prison after pleading guilty to shooting a Cobb County police officer in the chest at a Smyrna apartment complex in 2013, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Shymel Tquan Young pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on Tuesday and was sentenced to 20 years, with 12 to serve in prison and the rest on parole, according to the announcement.

On July 12, 2013, Young shot Cobb County Police Officer Danny Rogers at the Concord Chase apartment complex after running from the officer. Rogers and other uniformed patrol officers were imposing a heavy presence on the complex following the theft of an assault rifle from a police car in the area, according to prosecutors.

Rogers spotted Young hiding out suspiciously, and gave chase. Young fell, and Rogers was about to capture him when Young shot him in the chest. The bullet was stopped by the shock plate inside Rogers’ ballistic vest, but Young was still able to escape. Various girlfriends covered for Young initially, but later came forward to provide damning testimony against him, the DA’s Office said.

Rogers survived the shooting and was in court on Tuesday to hear Young’s plea, according to the DA’s Office.

Deputy Chief ADA Jesse Evans told the court that, “We do not enter this plea lightly. But for the grace of God and that vest, this would be a murder. They don’t get much more severe than this.”