2 guilty of killing Creekside High student

A Fulton County jury found two Union City men guilty Thursday in the August 2007 slaying of 18-year-old Brandon Horton.

Eskie Christmas, 25, and Marcus Jackson, 19, were convicted of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to a news release from the Fulton District Attorney’s office.

Both defendants will be sentenced later.

Horton, a student at Creekside High School in South Fulton, was killed while playing basketball with neighborhood friends.

Jackson and Christmas both approached Horton on Aug. 7, 2007, after exiting from an SUV. Jackson allegedly struck Horton in the face with a gun, causing Horton to fall to the ground.

Horton fought back, punching Jackson in the face. Christmas apparently then struck Horton from behind, picked up the gun and shot Horton once in the head at point-blank range. The two assailants fled as Horton lay dying.