In the spring of 2015, a burst of gunfire shattered the evening calm on McGregor Street in LaGrange, Georgia, forever altering the lives of many. On the evening of April 14th, 21-year-old Tony Kennedy was sitting on a porch with a friend, Andre Bennett, in the 200 block of the street when the shooting erupted. Both men tried to escape the sudden violence, but a bullet struck Tony in the head. He was airlifted to a hospital in Atlanta but succumbed to his injuries the following day. Tony was an African American male.
The investigation that followed painted a grim picture of gang-related violence. Authorities determined that the shooting was not a random act but a targeted attack rooted in a gang rivalry. Tony Kennedy, his friend Andre Bennett, and the individuals who shot at them were all associated with the Gangster Disciples street gang. Investigators learned that on the night of the shooting, the assailants received information about Kennedy and Bennett's location and proceeded to drive to the scene and open fire.
Law enforcement officials worked quickly to identify and apprehend the individuals responsible for Tony Kennedy's death. Four people were arrested in connection with the shooting. Christopher Foster, 19, and Cordarius Collier, 22, faced the most severe charges, including murder, participation in criminal street gang activity, multiple counts of aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Two other individuals, 23-year-old Cherise Newton and 19-year-old Tyler Dunson, were also taken into custody.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Christopher Foster and Cordarius Collier both pleaded guilty to their charges. They were each sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving 30 years, to be followed by five years of probation. Cherise Newton and Tyler Dunson chose to cooperate with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to lesser charges of aggravated assault and participation in criminal street gang activity. Newton received a 15-year sentence, with seven of those years to be served in prison. Dunson was sentenced to 15 years, with five years to be served behind bars.
