A man arrested more than two years ago on murder charges was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday, the Newton County District Attorney’s Office said.
Keyondre Preston, now 20, was convicted Thursday of malice murder, felony murder, three counts of armed robbery, three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of burglary and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was sentenced to life without parole plus 15 years, according to the district attorney’s office.
Preston’s conviction stems from the 2019 shooting death of Shelvis Dwayne Hillman, 40, of Covington. Prior to Preston’s sentencing, the judge heard victim impact statements from Hillman’s child, wife and mother.
The shooting occurred the evening of April 3 after an argument between five people on Washington Street in Covington, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. Hillman was found by police with a single wound to the abdomen. He was taken to Piedmont Newton Hospital, where he died.
Credit: Newton County District Attorney's Office
Credit: Newton County District Attorney's Office
At the time of the killing, Preston was out on bond from two separate armed robbery arrests in DeKalb County, the district attorney’s office said. According to evidence presented in his murder trial, Preston fired shots at the victims of those armed robberies. He was arrested a few weeks later in a motel in Cordele, police said at the time.
Before Preston’s sentencing, prosecutors presented evidence from his juvenile record, which included another robbery, the district attorney’s office said. He will serve multiple concurrent life sentences.
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