In the early morning hours of December 9, 2018, a birthday celebration at a McDonough, Georgia lounge tragically ended in the death of 31-year-old DeCoby Barlow. Barlow, a male, was attending his cousin's birthday party at the Traxx Lounge and Grill when a dispute that began inside the club spilled out into the parking lot, erupting in gunfire. An innocent bystander, Barlow was struck and killed by a stray bullet as he was getting into a car. He was not involved in the altercation. His cousin, who witnessed the shooting, described it as the worst thing he had ever been through.
The investigation into the senseless violence led McDonough police to identify three suspects. Jalon Edwards, 28, was the first to be arrested in connection with the shooting. Subsequently, Colton Sims, 29, and Monte Glover Jr., 28, were also apprehended. The investigation revealed that the three men opened fire outside the club following the initial fight. The building itself was left riddled with bullet holes from the shootout.
In February 2020, justice was served for DeCoby Barlow and his family. After a trial, a jury found Jalon Edwards, Colton Sims, and Monte Glover Jr. guilty on multiple felony charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. All three men were sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the shooting that ended a life far too soon. The case was later appealed by Sims and Glover, but the Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed their convictions and sentences, finding the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to support the jury's verdicts.
