Atlanta Man Convicted for Cobb Nightclub Killing

An Atlanta man has been convicted of murder for killing a man outside a nightclub in Kennesaw last year, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.

Lewarner Jaron Scott, 29, of Atlanta, was convicted late Friday of malice and felony murder in the death of Kevin Compton, 27, who was shot with a .9mm handgun on July 12, 2014. Mr. Scott was also convicted of three counts of aggravated assault and three counts of firearms-possession charges.

Compton and two friends went to Diamond Dave’s Steakhouse to celebrate one of the men getting a new job. While at the nightclub, a fight broke out on the dance floor and Compton’s party decided to leave. A friend of Scott’s was injured in the altercation, prosecutors said. While driving out of the parking lot, Scott fired five shots into the back of the vehicle.

The car with Compton inside left the nightclub and traveled to the Acworth area, when it was discovered that Compton was seriously wounded. He was transported to the hospital, where he died. Scott turned himself in on July 18.

“Kevin Compton was a fine young man, out with his friends to celebrate success and the future, until this defendant chose to end Kevin’s life with a .9mm bullet,” ADA Greg Epstein said. “I am pleased the jury saw fit to condemn this particularly senseless act of violence.”

Scott will be sentenced on Thursday afternoon, prosecutors said. He is facing a minimum life sentence for the murder.