3 men convicted of murder of Atlanta mayor-elect's nephew

ATLANTA — Three men were found guilty of murder Thursday in the shooting death of Darius Bottoms, nephew of Atlanta's mayor-elect.

Bottoms, 18, was shot and killed as he drove along Legacy Drive in southwest Atlanta in June 2014.

He was shot in the head when his vehicle was ambushed. A passenger in his car was uninjured.

The police investigation revealed that Bottoms was mistaken for a rival gang member.

"Just to see where this city's going with gang violence, this is just a start. There's a lot of it going on," Bottoms mother, Myeka Jennings, said.

On Thursday, Rashad Barber, 19; Ryan Bowdery, 23; and David Dajunta Wallace, 22, were convicted on several charges.

"My heart weeped," Bottoms' grandmother said of the verdict. "God is good and victory is ours."

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Barber and Bowdery were both found guilty of felony murder, malice murder, criminal damage to property, aggravated assault, possession of firearm during commission of a felony and participation in criminal street gang activity.

Barber was sentenced to life in prison plus 25 years. Bowdery was sentenced to life in prison plus 10 years.

Wallace was found guilty of felony murder, possession of firearm during commission of a felony and participation in criminal street gang activity. He was sentenced to life in prison plus five years.

"I hope that people look and see how gang activity has really infiltrated our community," District Attorney Paul Howard said. "I could be standing here with any family in Atlanta because Darius Bottoms was not a gang member. He was not involved in any incorrect activity."

Cox Media Group