The mother of a 15-year-old shot to death on the 17th Street bridge in Midtown Atlanta last year was finally able to speak directly to the teenager she believes killed her son.
“Just looking at you, you’re a kid. It hurts. It’s heartbreaking,” Tiffany Smith told Demetrious Hill, one of three defendants who accepted plea deals Thursday.
Prosecutors said Hill was also 15 when he shot Smith’s son, Cameron Jackson, in the head in November 2022. The shooting also killed 12-year-old Zyion Charles.
Hill was sentenced to 40 years, including 30 in prison, court documents show. Two co-defendants, Toney Wilson and Antonio Jackson, also pleaded guilty Thursday. Wilson was sentenced to 40 years and must serve 20, while Jackson received a 20-year sentence and must serve 10, according to court documents.
Deputy District Attorney Chris Sperry told the court that Hill’s sentence was longer because he was seen extending his hand with a gun in the direction of Cameron, Channel 2 Action News reported.
After the court hearing, Zyion’s mother said she forgives those responsible for killing her son.
“If I walk around with hate in my heart, it’s not going to change anything, so why not? My son wouldn’t want me to be angry,” Deerica Charles said. “But there’s a part of me is missing, and that’s why I’m angry. I will never heal from it, never.”
On Nov. 26, 2022, shots were fired not far from Atlantic Station, a busy retail and residential area. Zyion died at the scene, according to police. Days later, Cameron died from his injuries. Four others, all under the age of 18, were treated for injuries and released from the hospital, police said.
Investigators said a group of children and teens was escorted off the Atlantic Station property for unruly behavior. After that, the group walked to the nearby bridge, where police said shots were fired.
All of the suspects were associated with the Fast Money Killers gang and the shooting was gang-related, investigators said.
Six suspects, all teens, were later charged in the incident. In October, A’Micael Aziz, 17, entered a negotiated guilty plea to two counts of causing a person to become a member of a street gang and was sentenced to 10 years with five years to serve in prison.
Two remaining defendants are expected to appear in court later this month to accept plea deals.
