An Atlanta man was convicted of murder for shooting a man he didn't know outside a Kennesaw nightclub, the Cobb County District Attorney said Monday.
Lewarner Jaron Scott, 29, was convicted late Friday of malice and felony murder, aggravated assault and firearms charges in the July 12, 2014, death of Kevin Compton, DA Vic Reynolds said. Compton, 27, of Powder Springs was shot in the head with a .9mm handgun while seated in the backseat of a car leaving Diamond Dave’s on U.S. 41, according to investigators.
Compton went to the nightclub with two friends to celebrate one friend’s new job the same night Scott went to the club with friends, investigators said. The two groups did not know each other.
When a fight broke out on the dance floor, Compton and his friends decided to leave the club. The group had not been involved in the fight, according to prosecutors.
One of Scott’s friends was injured in the fight, and as a Nissan Versa drove out of the parking lot, Scott fired five shots at the car.
After shooting at the car, Scott drove his car back to the front of the club and tried to convince his friends to leave, his arrest warrant stated. But when they declined, Scott drove away alone, moments after Kennesaw officers arrived at the club. An officer’s dashboard camera captured Scott with what appeared to be gun in his waistband, the warrant stated.
While officers were investigating at the club, the Nissan’s driver traveled north to Acworth, where he called 911 after realizing Compton had been shot in the head, police previously said. Compton was transported to a hospital, where he died. An arrest warrant was issued for Scott, who surrendered and has remained in the Cobb jail since his arrest.
“Kevin Compton was a fine young man, out with his friends to celebrate success and the future, until this defendant chose to end Kevin’s life with a .9mm bullet,” ADA Greg Epstein said. “I am pleased the jury saw fit to condemn this particularly senseless act of violence.”
Sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday for Scott, who faces a mandatory life sentence on the murder conviction, the DA’s office said.
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