Studio Recording Session Turns Deadly | One Guilty Verdict

ATLANTA, GA -- A Fulton County Superior Court Jury has found Casey Battle, 21, guilty in the death of an Atlanta rapper. On April 20, 2016, Kenson Hunter, 36, put into motion a plan that would ultimately lead to the deaths of two men. That night, Hunte told Battle,31-year old Sheldon Dooley, 27-year old Nathan Hannon, and another unidentified man to rob Caleb Sims, aka “Bally,” at gunpoint inside the popular Headquarters Recording Studio on Metropolitan Parkway. Hunte arranged the armed robbery to retrieve a necklace and $50,000 cash that he claimed Sims had previously stolen from him. Hunte’s moniker, “Rich Show” was emblazoned on the medallion of the necklace.

To gain entry into the building in an effort to execute the armed robbery, Battle contacted Sims to setup a studio recording session, and then Sims rented the space. Once inside, Battle unlocked the front door of the studio and let Dooley, Hannon, and the unidentified man into the building. Battle escorted the three men to the recording area inside the studio where Sims, 28-year-old aspiring rapper Jerome Blake, aka “Blizzy,” and a sound engineer were working.

The building was normally locked and secured to the outside public, so without Battle’s access the other three would not have been allowed inside. After gaining entry to the recording area, Battle introduced his new producers. One of the defendants then drew his gun and yelled, “give it up,” to Sims, and the unidentified man shot Blake in the face with a .40 caliber handgun. Blake died at the scene.

Sims then retrieved his AK-47 and returned fire, which struck Hannon, who also died at the scene. The AK-47 was semi-automatic, but it was equipped with a bump-stock so it fired like an automatic weapon.

According to Georgia Law, because Hannon and Blake were killed during the commission of an armed robbery, Battle was charged with both murders. After the shooting, Dooley fled the scene but Battle remained at the studio and spoke to the responding officers. Battle lied at the scene about his involvement, but later indicated to Detectives Andre Lowe and Vincent Velazquez that Hunte coerced him into gaining access to the studio in an effort to rob Sims at gunpoint. However, there were Instagram messages that showed Battle actually initiated the contact with Hunte.

The recording studio was littered with shell casings from a .40 caliber handgun and an assault rifle. The necklace with Hunte’s moniker, “Rich Show” was found near the bodies. The defendants were captured by surveillance cameras entering and leaving the recording studio room where the shooting occurred.

The surveillance video was disseminated to the media and Police received an anonymous tip that one of the men depicted was Dooley. Battle was already in custody when U.S. Marshals arrested Dooley on August 19, 2016 in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

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