ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — An Albany man has been found guilty in a murder trial that ended Monday, Aug. 17.

The guilty verdict was reached at about 3:15 p.m. Shaquille Mathis was found guilty on all counts in the 2020 killing of 28-year-old Jawaski Kennedy.

Prosecutors said Mathis shot 28-year-old Kennedy in the head on Oct. 17, 2020, outside the House of Jazz. The shooting came four days after an alleged gang-related double murder on the east side of Albany. Prosecutors described the killing as retaliation in an ongoing conflict between two Albany gangs, the Bloods and the Rattlers.

On Oct. 13, 2020, 26-year-old Wontania Hall and 14-year-old D’Varri Canady were found dead at an apartment on Wingate Avenue in Albany.

Mathis has been found guilty of:

• Malice murder
• Felony murder
• Aggravated assault (two counts)
• Possession of a firearm during the comm. of a felony
• Violation of street gang act

The defense argued no one saw the shooting happen. One witness, who prosecutors said was close to the suspect, testified that Mathis admitted to the murder.

Closing arguments

The state said surveillance footage, social media and information from the community placed Mathis in the white sedan used in the shooting. Prosecutors said Mathis knew Kennedy was a member of the Rattlers and that the shooting was retaliation for the double murder four days earlier.

The defense said that information does not prove Mathis pulled the trigger. Defense attorney Angela Dillon argued no witness directly placed him inside the car and questioned whether investigators proved the vehicle was the same white Malibu tied to Mathis.

“But the gang world knew that. Who’s the gang world? Well, it’s 100 Rattlers and it’s 100 Bloods. That’s the number of estimated gang members that you heard in this community. And it’s important to them, they knew about it. So he’s identified effectively by... so everyone in the gang world in Albany knew it was him,” District Attorney Greg Edwards said.

“Your district attorney, the elected district attorney of this county, just stood up and asked the jury to do something that is totally an opposite of what the law requires you to do. Mr. Edwards just said the street committee identified Shaquille Mathis. And I want to tell you at the beginning of this argument that the judge will tell you that you are only to consider what you have heard from this witness stand,” Dillon said.

Since the state has the burden of proof, prosecutors presented one more closing argument before the jury went to deliberations.

Security increased during trial

More than a dozen members of law enforcement were in the courtroom after the verdict was read. There were no incidents following the guilty verdict.

The witness who testified was held in protective custody leading up to the trial after telling prosecutors they were afraid of being targeted by a gang for testifying. WALB did not air that testimony in an effort to protect the witness.

DA says gang conflict dates to 2012

District Attorney Greg Edwards said the war between the Bloods and the Rattlers has been going on since at least 2012. The District Attorney’s Office said it has been tracking and connecting disputes between the two gangs and believes the death toll is near a dozen.

During closing statements, Assistant District Attorney Dowdy White described the details of the case as “sickening” and said the violence has to stop.

“This community understands that we won’t stand for it. We won’t stand for it. It doesn’t matter if it’s gang-on-gang violence, gang terrorizing innocent people. We won’t stand for it,” White said.

“If the community helps itself, we can stop this violence. We can put a muzzle on all of the violent acts that are going on in this community. Even if they do it anonymously so we can, as in this case, trace down, you know, the fundamental issues involved in the case, that will help make everybody safe. It’ll make our community better,” Edwards said.

Kennedy’s mother speaks after verdict

Kennedy’s mother, Yolanda Jackson, said she hopes the case shows that gang violence can affect both sides.

“I wouldn’t say it’s just justice. It’s just a chapter in my book that I’m going to have to close. It’s a faded picture with a broken glass. And all I have is memories. I have to go to the grave and see Jawaski. I have to go to the grave and change its flowers. My closure is just keep praying for the city of Albany,” Jackson said.

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