Four Georgia men received prison sentences for a 2024 drive-by shooting that killed 3-year-old Kyron Santino Zarco Smith and injured a 9-year-old in Athens. The men were targeting a rival gang member at the time.
The last defendant, 19-year-old Julian Cubillos, pleaded guilty last week to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The other three men — 24-year-old Desmontrez Mathis, 18-year-old Jayden Brown and 20-year-old Dakious Echols — were convicted of malice murder and other charges, receiving life sentences. The shooting took place on March 8, 2024, at the Hallmark Mobile Home Park. Prosecutors said the men, who belonged to the Everybody Eats gang, opened fire to raise their status in the group. Bullets struck Kyron in the chest as he sat on the couch watching television with the 9-year-old. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said the outcome brings some peace to the family while underscoring the need to combat gang activity. Kyron's mother, Shanita Smith, told local media she felt relief at the verdicts after waiting a long time for justice. The gunmen had intended to target Kyron's oldest brother, according to reports. The family later moved away from Athens.