Austell Man Convicted of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend

An Austell man who shot his ex-girlfriend and then himself on Christmas Day in 2012 has been convicted of aggravated assault, firearms charges, and reckless conduct by a Cobb County jury, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Redrick Bartie’s girlfriend moved to Florida with their children in the fall of 2012 following a tumultuous eight-year relationship. Bartie convinced her to visit him in Austell for Christmas and to bring the children with her.

In the early morning hours of Christmas Day, Bartie and his ex-girlfriend got into an argument, which ended when Bartie pulled out a .40 caliber pistol and attempted to shoot her in the chest. The gun jammed, but Bartie cleared the jam, shot her in the chest, then shot himself before calling 911.

Bartie’s ex-girlfriend survived the shooting, but suffered a punctured lung, a lacerated spleen, and several fractured ribs, according to Assistant District Attorney Joyette Holmes.

Bartie’s trial began on Monday with jury selection, and the jury returned a guilty verdict against Bartie on Thursday, Judge Reuben Green sentenced Bartie to the maximum term of 27 years in prison following his conviction.

“I can’t think of a worse aggravated assault case I’ve heard than this one,” Green told Bartie. “And I think under the circumstances, your children are better off without you being in their lives.”