On a September evening in 2020, the life of 19-year-old Dontavious Young was cut short on a street in Stone Mountain, Georgia. On September 8, Stone Mountain police responded to numerous 911 calls about a shooting on Cherry Wood Drive. Upon arrival, they found Young lying face down in the road with an empty holster beside him. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy later revealed that he had been shot 13 times.
Near the scene, officers encountered 36-year-old Trillian Haile standing in front of a house. Haile had placed two handguns on the ground before him, one of which belonged to Young. He informed the officers that he had also been shot and was subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment.
During an interview with detectives, Haile claimed he did not know Young and that he had acted in self-defense. He stated that he was sitting outside when Young approached him and attempted to rob him at gunpoint. Haile said he then drew his own weapon, and a shootout ensued. According to Haile, Young tried to flee, but he continued to fire at him. Haile told investigators that after Young fell to the ground, put his hands up, and said, 'I'm sorry,' he continued to shoot until Young was dead.
In March 2024, a DeKalb County jury found Trillian Haile guilty of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. In April 2024, a judge sentenced Haile to 25 years, with 20 years to be served in confinement followed by an additional five years on probation.
