An argument about children playing with a football two years ago led to an 18-year-old’s death, a juvenile being pistol-whipped in the face and a man’s loss of freedom.
The man accused of the violence was convicted Thursday of several felonies, including voluntary manslaughter, leading to a 40-year prison sentence, authorities said.
Robert Jennings, 33, of Snellville, was convicted by a jury on six charges in the death of Ezekiel Smith, the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office.
The May 23, 2018, incident began with several calls to 911, the DA’s office said in a news release. Smith had been shot and a 16-year-old had been pistol-whipped in the face at the Smokecreek Mobile Home Park in unincorporated Snellville, AJC.com previously reported.
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Investigators later learned that Jennings and the 16-year-old were involved in an argument before the shooting, which prompted the gunfire and assault.
The argument was over a football that several young children, including Smith’s siblings, were playing with that day, the release said.
In an act of escalation, Jennings pulled out a handgun to threatened the 16-year-old. He then fired a warning shot into the air before leaving.
Smith, the 16-year-old and a group of people went to Jennings’ home to confront him about the gunfire later that day. However, Jennings and two of his nephews left and drove to Smith’s house before the group returned.
When they got home, Jennings confronted the crowd while waving his gun around, prosecutors said. He then pistol-whipped the 16-year-old, causing the gun to fire.
That shot didn’t hit anyone, but it prompted Smith to pull out his own gun. He didn’t know his weapon wasn’t loaded and when Jennings saw it, he opened fire.
Smith was shot several times in in the foot, neck and back. He later died at the hospital, authorities said.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
During Jennings’ trial, he claimed self-defense, but the jury didn’t see it that way. While he was acquitted on a count of malice murder, he was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault and three weapons charges.
During his sentencing, Jennings reiterated that he acted in self-defense, telling Judge Ronnie Batchelor that, “It is what it is.”
He was sentenced to 40 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation.
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