Teen arrested in shooting death of high school basketball player

By ALEXIS STEVENS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Carrollton teen accused of accidentally shooting and killing his friend is expected to make his first court appearance Monday, authorities said.

Johnta Chism, 18, was arrested late Saturday night on charges of manslaughter and reckless conduct in the shooting death of D’Vante Rashad Williams, according to Capt. Jamison Sailors with Carrollton police.

Known as Rashad, the 16-year-old died Friday just two days into his junior year at Carrollton High School, where he planned to play basketball again this fall. Authorities say the incident happened about 9:30 p.m. while the two friends were gathered at Williams’ home for a party.

Witnesses said that as the friends joked around, Chism shot Williams once in the abdomen, unaware that the black, semi-automatic pistol he was holding was loaded, Sailors said.

Williams was transported to Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton where he was pronounced dead at 10:09 p.m.

Chism’s whereabouts were unknown for most of Saturday, but he turned himself in about 9:30 p.m. He was questioned and then arrested.

Police do not know who owns the gun, Sailors said. Investigators will continue to talk to Chism, he said.

High school coaches rushed to the hospital late Friday after hearing of the shooting. About 1,200 students attend Carrollton High School, where Williams was well-known among his classmates.

A vigil was held at the school Saturday night.

“Rashad was a very friendly, good-natured, young guy,” principal Mark Albertus said Saturday. “This type of thing is so tragic. This young man had his whole future in front of him.”

-- Staff writer Katie Leslie contributed to this report.