Sunday, August 6, 2023–3:12 p.m.
-John Bailey, Rome News-Tribune-
This story is possible because of a news-sharing agreement with the Rome News-Tribune. More information can be found at northwestgeorgianews.com.
Four men were indicted on murder charges Friday for the May 21, 2022 shooting death of Derricus Smith on Perkins Street in North Rome.
The Floyd County Grand Jury returned true bills of indictment for malice murder for 20-year-old Justin Antonio Glynn and felony murder for 20-year-old Malachai Alexander Williams, 18-year-old Corey Lashun Chatman Jr. and a fourth man who police were looking for on Friday.
All four were also indicted on felony participation in street gang activity and aggravated assault charges as well as misdemeanor simple battery charges.
Police discovered Smith’s body in the early hours of May 21. It had already been a hectic night with several calls in the North Rome area. An hour before, at 12:50 a.m., police checked the area of Reservation Street after a call that shots had been fired in the area. At 2:09 a.m., officers received another call of a fight on Perkins Street.
When they arrived at Perkins Street they found Smith fatally shot in the head near 307 Perkins St. Smith lived on nearby Nelm Street. Witnesses reported a black Dodge Challenger with several passengers was seen leaving the area.
Three of the four young men indicted were already held in jail without bond. Police were actively searching for the fourth man accused in the killing as of Friday evening.
Glynn, Williams and Chatman already face numerous criminal charges. Glynn and Williams already face armed robbery, aggravated assault and false imprisonment as well as gang charges. Chatman is being held on firearms, drug and gang charges.
They were arrested in what police described as a months-long pattern of crimes involving robbery, guns and drugs perpetrated by a group calling themselves the Real Northside Babies.
The Rome Police Department investigation began after the robbery of an A-1 Food and Beverage convenience store on Burnett Ferry Road on Sept. 7, 2022. Police investigators realized a number of other crimes were linked to a small group of individuals.
In March and April, police arrested seven members of the alleged gang.
In all, the participants have been accused of several crimes including robberies, shootings and drug sales including 20-year-old Charles Maddarius Lamar Adams, 19-year-old Jakobie Jiquan Adams and 18-year-old Justin Mykail Beckworth are all being held without bond on various charges. Caden Alexander Morang, 19, was released on $25,000 bond.
A tentative trial date on many of the earlier charges is scheduled for Aug. 30 in front of Floyd County Superior Court Judge John “Jack” Niedrach.
