In the winter of 2017, the life of 17-year-old Quintavious Barber Jr. was tragically cut short in a burst of gunfire in a McDonough, Georgia apartment complex parking lot. On the evening of January 25th, the young man, known to some as 'Jr.', had arranged to meet with two other men for the purpose of a firearm trade. This transaction, however, would ultimately lead to his untimely death.
The arranged meeting took place at the Sable Chase Apartments, where Barber intended to exchange a rifle for two pistols. He was accompanied by another individual, Keundre Chappell. The men they were meeting were 21-year-old Deshaun Middlebrooks and 20-year-old Tory Jaleel Jones. Before any exchange could happen, Middlebrooks opened fire, striking both Barber and Chappell. In the ensuing chaos, both victims fled. Barber, gravely wounded, managed to run to a nearby apartment before he collapsed. He was later transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Chappell survived the attack, having been shot in the hand.
The investigation into the shooting quickly identified Middlebrooks as the gunman and Jones as the driver of the getaway vehicle. Both men were subsequently arrested and faced a series of serious charges. In November 2018, a Henry County jury found both Deshaun Middlebrooks and Tory Jaleel Jones guilty for their roles in the fatal shooting. Their convictions included malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Following the jury's verdict, the court handed down lengthy prison sentences. Deshaun Middlebrooks, the man who pulled the trigger, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, with an additional 25 years. Tory Jaleel Jones, who drove the vehicle, received a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole, plus an additional five years, ensuring that both men would be held accountable for the violent end of a young life during a gun deal that went tragically wrong.
