An Atlanta man who murdered a man he didn't know outside a Kennesaw nightclub was sentenced to life in prison, plus 25 years, the Cobb County District Attorney's Office said Friday.
Lewarner Jaron Scott, 29, was convicted last week 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.
Thursday afternoon, Compton’s relatives and friends filled the courtroom, and three people took turns explaining that despite suffering from kidney disease and enduring multiple heart surgeries in his life, Compton was the rock of his family. Compton studied at Kennesaw Mountain High School before becoming too ill to attend, the DA’s office said.
Jennifer Trimble-Lee, one of Compton’s sisters, told the court she had prepared herself for the possibility of her brother dying from his disease, but never by violence.
“While I forgive, I will never be able to forget, or understand,” she said.
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.
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.
“You weren’t with the wrong crowd that night,” Judge Ann Harris said to Scott. “You were the wrong crowd.”
She then sentenced him to life plus 25 years for the various charges.
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