In the early morning hours of December 9, 2017, a 'pajama party' at a residence on Covey Trail near Newnan, Georgia, turned deadly for 21-year-old Tomas Maurice Gooden. An African American male, Gooden was attending the gathering which grew crowded with unrecognized individuals, leading to a volatile atmosphere.
An argument erupted in the garage between Gooden and another man, 27-year-old Michael Javon Williams, reportedly over a dice game.
The dispute escalated, and Gooden pushed Williams. In response, Williams produced a. 40 caliber pistol and shot Gooden once in the head. Witnesses reported hearing someone yell, 'He's got a gun,' just before the fatal shot was fired. Responding deputies discovered Gooden unresponsive in the garage around 3:30 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation revealed that both Gooden and Williams were affiliated with rival gangs, and gambling was taking place at the party.
Michael Javon Williams was arrested the following day and faced a slew of charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon by a felon, and violating probation. He was held without bond at the Coweta County jail. During his trial, Williams claimed he acted in self-defense, fearing for his life. However, after three hours of deliberation, a jury found him guilty on all counts in February 2019. Williams was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. An appeal of his conviction was later filed, asserting plain error in the jury instructions and ineffective assistance of counsel. The appeal was ultimately unsuccessful.
