4way Murder Convictions Affirmed

GEORGIA SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS CONVICTIONS OF KELVIN HURSTON AND DEXTREION SHEALEY FOR THEIR ROLES IN 2016 GANG-MOTIVATED MURDER ON NEWNAN STREET

On February 15, 2021, the Supreme Court of Georgia, in a unanimous opinion, affirmed the convictions and sentence of Kelvin Hurston, now 20 years old, of LaGrange. This ruling comes after the Supreme Court of Georgia, on June 1, 2020, also unanimously, affirmed the convictions and sentence of Dextreion Shealey, now 23 years old, of West Point.

On April 23, 2018, after a six-day trial, a Troup County jury found Hurston guilty of one count of felony murder, two violations of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, two counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of possession of firearm during commission of a felony. The jury found Shealey guilty of one count of felony murder, one count of a violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and one count of aggravated assault.

Coweta Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Emory Palmer, who presided over the trial, sentenced Hurston to serve life, with the possibility of parole, followed by 70 years in prison, and sentenced Shealey to serve life in prison, with the possibility of parole. Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jack Winne tried the case to the jury and handled both appeals.
The convictions resulted from the December 17, 2016, killing of Daven Tucker on Newnan Street, and a drive-by shooting at the LaGrange High School parking lot.

The Supreme Court of Georgia’s affirmation of these convictions should be viewed by the people of LaGrange as an affirmation of the commitment of the LaGrange Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office to stop gang violence in our community. As I stated to the press following these jury trial convictions, this case included 911 calls made by law-abiding citizens as they lay on the floor of their homes avoiding bullets flying through their neighborhood. No member of our community should have to experience that. The State of Georgia’s Street Gang Act is meant to hold violent gang members accountable and that is exactly how it was used in this case. I am thankful that LaGrange PD Detective Brian Brown and Deputy Chief ADA Jack Winne were able to achieve justice for the victim’s family and all of the people of LaGrange with this conviction.