In the early hours of May 3, 2015, Leevon Daniels, a 26-year-old male television producer, was found deceased in downtown Lithonia, Georgia. His body was discovered near railroad tracks after sunrise. An investigation revealed that Daniels had been walking alone and talking on his cellphone when a group of teenagers confronted him.
The encounter turned fatal when the group, who had been on a crime spree breaking into cars, decided to rob Daniels for his cellphone. They pointed a stolen gun at him and demanded his phone. Daniels complied, throwing the phone to them, but was shot in the chest. The group then fled the scene, leaving him to die. The killing was described by police as a random and senseless act of violence over a cellphone.
Nearly eight months after the incident, a tip led to a breakthrough in the case. Between January 28 and February 1, 2016, five teenagers were arrested in connection with the murder. The suspects were identified as Monolito 'Lito' Walker, Jr. Christay 'Chop' Eady Mohamed 'Budda' Kamara Dawson Brown and Abijah 'Juice' Richards. A warrant was also issued for a sixth suspect, 16-year-old Torrence 'TC' Chaney. The teens were charged with Felony Murder and Armed Robbery.
Subsequent legal proceedings brought some measure of justice for Leevon Daniels. In October 2017, Monolito Walker, then 18, and Mohamed Kamara, then 19, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. In November 2017, Abijah Richards, 18, was convicted by a jury of Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery, and weapons offenses. He was identified as the shooter and was sentenced to life in prison plus 15 years. His conviction was later affirmed on appeal. Walker and Kamara also received sentences for their roles in the crime; Kamara was sentenced to 30 years with 20 to serve, and Walker received a 30-year sentence with the first 20 to be served.
