Out Of Jail For 4 Days, Marietta Man Shoots Victim In His Head

MARIETTA, GA -- A man with multiple prior felony convictions has been ordered to spend four decades in prison after being convicted of attempted murder and other crimes.

In the early morning hours of June 18, 2018, Justin Brown – who had been out of jail for four days -- was upset over an alleged slight when he went to a residence on Barber Road in Marietta to see a woman. Brown, a convicted felon, took a gun with him. A man at the house argued with Brown in the front yard, and the noise drew other people to see what was happening. Brown pulled out a gun and fired, striking one man on the top of his head and grazing his arm. Brown fled the scene and was arrested in the city of Atlanta hours later.

During the week-long trial that began Jan. 14, Brown took the stand and insisted no one could tell him not to have a gun. He admitted that he shot the man in the head; that he chased after the man while continuing to fire; and that he later tried to bribe witnesses not to appear in court. In fact, one witness was taken into custody for failing to appear as instructed. Brown claimed he fired in self-defense based upon his PTSD diagnosis, which stems from being shot and stabbed multiple times throughout his life, including while in prison.

The jury convicted Brown, 35, of Marietta, of criminal attempt to commit murder, aggravated assault, and firearm-possession charges.

Last week, Cobb Superior Court Judge Ann Harris sentenced Brown as a recidivist to serve 40 years in prison without parole. He has more than 10 prior felony convictions dating to 2003, for armed robbery, drug distribution and firearms in Cobb and Fulton counties, and in Baltimore, Maryland.

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