Man Kills Stranger In Revenge, But Victim Was Innocent: Cobb DA

COBB COUNTY, GA — Jamaar Bracey shot and killed the wrong man. For that, he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Bracey, of Lawrenceville, was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a crime in the killing of Shawn Gray, a 22-year-old father of two, Cobb County District Attorney Flynn Broady Jr. said Wednesday. His charges stemmed from his "mistaken belief that the victim ... had some involvement in a drive-by shooting wherein Bracey's nephew was shot in the neck in north Chicago" in January.

But authorities said there was no evidence that Gray had any association with Bracey or his nephew, other than dating the mother of someone who formerly lived at the Chicago residence where Bracey's nephew was shot.

"Hurt me? I'll let Karma do its job; Hurt my family? I'll become Karma," Bracey posted on Facebook after Gray's killing, according to evidence presented at trial.

While Bracey was searching a Facebook group that he believed had information in his nephew's death, he found out that one of the group members — who happened to be the son of Gray's girlfriend — posted a photo at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel on Overlook Parkway on Jan. 14. Gray and his girlfriend, as well as her son, had traveled there to celebrate Gray's girlfriend's birthday, Broady said.

Bracey went to the hotel three times "to watch and stalk Gray, on one occasion sitting outside the hotel for 10-and-a-half hours," according to a news release from the DA. Evidence showed that on Jan. 15, Bracey put a GPS tracker on Gray's rental car, tracked him for 24 hours and texted his sister, Kirby, as well as his codefendant, Ashley Davis, on Gray's whereabouts.

Around 3:30 a.m. Jan. 17, Bracey and Davis followed Gray back to his hotel when Bracey snuck up on Gray and shot him in the parking lot, the release said. He fired six rounds, four of which hit Gray as he tried to run. He fell to his death on a rock embankment just outside the hotel.

Davis was taken into custody a few days later, and Bracey was arrested in North Carolina in February.

On Sept. 21, Bracey was sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus five years. Davis entered a plea to felony murder for his involvement in Gray's death.

"[Bracey] hunted Shawn like an animal hunts their prey. He followed, stalked and tracked Shawn for three days before repeatedly pulling the trigger. It was calculated, wanton and coldblooded," Senior Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Green said. "Because of this defendant, Shawn's children will grow up without their father — and for no reason."