Felon Returning To Prison After Shooting Ex-Girlfriend

MARIETTA, GA — An Atlanta felon has been sentenced to 30 years after admitting he shot a woman at a Starbucks in 2017. Marcus Antonio Beard, now 45, pleaded guilty on Monday to aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charges stem from the afternoon of July 20, 2017, when Beard, who was angry at his former girlfriend, had another person trick the woman into meeting, under the guise of a date. Then when the victim was at the Starbucks at 2495 Cumberland Parkway, Beard appeared and shot her once in the chest, then fled in a vehicle.

“This was an egregiously evil act,” said Senior ADA Richele Anderson, who prosecuted the case. “This defendant went there that day with the intention of murdering her. It’s a miracle that she survived.”

After hearing the facts and accepting the non-negotiated plea, Cobb Superior Court Judge Robert E. Flournoy sentenced Beard to 30 years, with 19 years to serve in prison and the balance on probation. Beard was previously convicted of aggravated stalking charges in Fulton County.