Men get 2 life prison terms for deadly shooting

Jaquavious Johnson (left) and Scean Mitchell

Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Jaquavious Johnson (left) and Scean Mitchell

Two men each received two life prison terms after they were convicted of shooting a 23-year-old man to death outside his southeast Atlanta apartment.

Jaquavious Johnson, 26, and Scean Mitchell, 21, gunned down Calvin Clark Jr. about 2 p.m. July 14, then took his gun, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said.

The shooting occurred outside the Forest Cove Apartments on New Town Circle.

“According to court testimony, a neighbor said Clark must have known he was about to be robbed by the two gang members because the victim reached for his handgun,” Howard said. “Before he could grab it, Mitchell and Johnson shot at Clark.”

A gunshot hit Clark in the leg and he ran to his front porch, where he collapsed. Johnson grabbed Clark’s handgun, and the defendants ran from the scene.

Clark died from massive blood loss before emergency crews arrived, according to Howard.

MORE: 2 arrested in deadly Atlanta apartment shooting, armed robbery

One neighbor said she overheard Johnson telling other members of his gang that he had been planning to rob Clark for weeks, according to testimony.

Another neighbor said Mitchell threatened her the day after he killed Clark. Mitchell heard she talked to detectives about the murder, she testified.

“If I find out that’s true,” Mitchell allegedly told the neighbor, “I’m going to put you in a body bag and tie you up and your family will never see you again.”

The men were convicted of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, participation in criminal street gang activity, armed robbery and possessing a firearm during commission of a felony, Howard said.

Mitchell was convicted of influencing a witness.

They each were sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus 25 years in prison.

MORE: Atlanta crime news

In other news: