THEFT OF STOLEN CABLE SERVICE LEADS TO MURDER

Unarmed Man Gunned Down in Dispute

Atlanta- Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the conviction by jury trial of Defendants Antonio Harris, 27, and Geno West, 27. Jurors convicted Harris and West on Tuesday of Felony Murder, three counts of Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon (West) and Possession of a Firearm by a First Offender Probationer (Harris). They were each sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 50 years for the shooting death of Marcus Simpson, 28, and injuring two other men.

Simpson was killed in a hail of gunfire July 1, 2008 while visiting friends at their Fletcher Street duplex in Atlanta. Defendant Antonio Harris lived in the next door unit. According to the investigation, Defendant Harris was receiving illegal cable in his home between the months of May and June 2008 until the wire was cut. He blamed his next door neighbors for the interruption of his illegal service. On the day of the shooting, Defendants Antonio Harris and Geno West stormed the next door unit where several people were gathered and opened fire. Two men were shot in the leg. Marcus Simpson, an innocent bystander, suffered fatal gunshot wounds to the stomach and head. The defendants fled the scene but were subsequently apprehended. Antonio Harris was located and captured during an officer's execution of a narcotics search warrant. Geno West was located and captured after attempting to intimidate one of the State's witnesses at a probation office.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Alford Dempsey presided over the trial.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Leif Howard of the Major Case Division with assistance from Senior Assistant District Attorney Edward Chase and Senior DA Investigator David White. Investigator William Boyd of the Atlanta Police Department led the initial investigation.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov