Deamonte Yak Gotti Kendrick was found not guilty of all six charges he was facing.
He hung his head, made the sign of the cross and then embraced his lawyer, Doug Weinstein.
Shannon Stillwell was convicted of one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Shannon Stillwell (L) and Deamonte “Yak Gotti” KendrickMiguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP; Paras Griffin/Getty Images
He was found not guilty of his seven other charges.
Stillwell turned and hugged his lawyer, Max Schardt.
Minutes later, the judge sentenced him to time served and probation.
Stillwell was further charged with the March 14, 2022 shooting death of Shymel Drinks.
We are relieved and thankful, Schardt tellsRolling Stoneafter the verdict.
When I hugged him, it felt like he was melting in my arms.
We only have one life on this earth, and hes getting a second chance at it.
So Im hopeful for him, Schardt says.
Both Schardt and Weinstein had a chance to speak with about six jurors after the verdict.
They said they struggled with the length of the case.
The jurors were like, Whats this about?
[Prosecutors] were presenting evidence on defendants not in the room.
The lesson is: Dont put a on case that takes a year.
You have to have respect for jurors time.
The mid-trial plea negotiations were prompted by a prosecution witness who testified about something previously ruled off-limits.
He then pleaded guilty to three drug charges, two gun charges, and one lesser gang charge.
If he violates probation,hell get a backloaded sentence of 20 years, the judge said.
During the trial, prosecutors claimed Kendrick spotted Thomas outside the barber shop and alerted others.
In his closing, Stillwells lawyer, Schardt, said prosecutors failed to prove their case.
Steel said repeatedly during the trial that Williams was friends with Thomas and grieved his death.
Williams was never directly charged with murder.)
In his closing argument delivered Nov. 25, Kendricks lawyer Weinstein also said prosecutors failed to meet their burden.
Are they a gang because theyre all dressed in red?
The majority of this prosecution team are people of color, she said.
The victims in this case, most of them are people of color.
Prosecutors initially charged 28 defendants when theyunveiled their RICO indictmentin May 2022.
Nine co-defendants, includingfamed rapper Sergio Gunna Kitchens, accepted plea deals before Williams trial started.
A dozen other co-defendants had their cases severed for various reasons, including one defendant who was never caught.
The charges against a final co-defendant were dropped when he was convicted of an unrelated murder.
