Fulton County Man Convicted of Murder in 2021 New Year’s Eve Shooting

A jury found Dequavius Franklin guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, home invasion, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Investigators reported that police were called to a home on Bethel Drive in the Dixie Hill neighborhood on Dec. 31, 2021. Upon arrival, they found Jaquon Anderson dead from multiple gunshot wounds. During the trial, prosecutors presented a witness who claimed to have been with Anderson just before the shooting. The witness alleged that Franklin and another masked man appeared from the side of the house and pointed a gun at them. The witness ran away and stated that Anderson was forced inside.

The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office said evidence showed Anderson was shot 10 times. Prosecutors noted that Anderson, who was armed, returned fire, hitting Franklin in the abdomen.

“Surveillance video shows the defendant being dropped off at a hospital for treatment of his gunshot wound and was subsequently questioned by detectives,” the district attorney’s office said. Detectives obtained a search warrant and collected a cheek swab from Franklin. Prosecutors stated that DNA from Franklin matched the blood found at the scene where Anderson was fatally shot.

“It is a shame that young lives are turned around and cut short by these senseless acts of violence,” said District Attorney Fani Willis. “I am keeping Mr. Anderson’s loved ones in my prayers, and I hope this conviction brings some sense of justice to them.”