16-year-old Atlanta rapper Lil Purk is among several defendants who took a plea in the killing of a 12-year-old and 15-year-old outside of Atlantic Station last year. Subsequently, the rapper has been sentenced to 40 years (20 in prison and 20 on probation).
According to Atlanta’s 11Alive, five of the six defendants arrested in the deadly 17th Street Bridge shooting near Atlantic Station last November have taken plea deals, assuming responsibility for the deaths of 12-year-old Zyion Charles and 15-year-old Cameron Jackson. The sixth defendant, A’Micael Aziz, 17, previously entered a plea deal, which would see him sentenced to 10 years (5 in prison and 5 on probation).
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Per 11Alive, Atlanta rapper Lil Purk, along with the rest of the defendants, were tried as adults despite being aged 16 or younger. Antonio Jackson entered a negotiated guilty plea and was sentenced to 20 years (10 in prison and 10 on probation). Demetrius Hill entered a negotiated guilty plea and was sentenced to 40 years (30 in prison and 10 on probation). Toney Wilson, 16, entered a negotiated guilty plea and was sentenced to 40 years (20 in prison and 20 on probation).
Deandre Forston entered a negotiated guilty plea and was sentenced to 40 years (20 in prison and 20 on probation). DeRodney Russell entered a negotiated guilty plea and was sentenced to 40 years (20 in prison and 20 on probation).
It is also reported that as part of their deals they have entered pleas for violation of the Street Gang Act. However, Hill and Wilson also entered pleas for murder and manslaughter charges, explaining why their sentences are significantly greater than the rest. Also, Forston and Russell entered pleas for a murder charge, but they were lessened to manslaughter.
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Before the convictions, on Saturday, November 26, 2022, two teens were shot and killed near Atlantic Station. At the time, Atlanta Police Department officials released footage showing a group of teens believed to be connected to the deadly shooting.
Police initially believed the shootout stemmed from the two groups originally escorted off the Atlantic Station property due to unruly behavior and curfew violations. However, APD officials later updated that they believed the shooting was actually gang-related. However, Charles’ family said they didn’t believe he was part of a gang.
Charles died Saturday night during the incident while the second victim was placed in critical condition, dying shortly after. It’s reported that four others were hurt in the deadly shooting.
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Taking to his Instagram Story on Tuesday (December 19), Atlanta rapper Lil Purk wrote, “To all my family and fans I would like to sincerely apologize to y’all and to all the younger generation looking up to me. Let me and my situation be a lesson learned for our whole generation everything not what it seem and I’m still pleading my innocence I love you lil hot and to the families hurt by this situation forgive me also still keeping faith alive 43va.”
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