In the late hours of a Monday evening in November 2018, a tragic scene unfolded at an apartment complex on Weatherly Drive in Decatur, Georgia. A young man, Francisco Dwayne Zapata, was discovered by a police officer, partially outside of his car with a fatal gunshot wound to his chest. Despite the swift arrival of law enforcement, the 19-year-old had no pulse and was pronounced dead just twelve minutes after being found.
What began as a grim discovery would soon unravel a story of betrayal and violence between friends.
The investigation into Zapata's death quickly pointed towards someone he knew. Within days, authorities arrested his friend, 18-year-old Maleik Woods of Tucker. The motive for the killing appeared to be robbery, as investigators alleged that Woods had stolen $1,500 from Zapata before shooting him. According to reports, the two had been seen together earlier in the day, with witnesses observing Zapata in possession of a significant amount of cash. Cell phone evidence would later place Woods near the scene of the crime around the time of the shooting. Woods was taken into custody at a business in Decatur without incident and charged with murder and armed robbery.
In January 2019, a DeKalb County grand jury indicted Maleik Woods on multiple charges, including malice murder, felony murder, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. The case proceeded to a jury trial in November of that same year. After hearing the evidence, the jury acquitted Woods of felony murder based on armed robbery and the armed robbery charge itself. However, he was found guilty on the remaining counts, including malice murder. The court sentenced Maleik Woods to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Woods later appealed his conviction, but the Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed the trial court's decision, ensuring that he would remain incarcerated for the death of his friend.
