3 men found guilty in Bradley Coleman's gas station murder sentenced to life
The Brief
The three alleged Nine Trey Bloods gang members accused of murdering a 29-year-old New Orleans man at a Gwinnett County gas station have been found guilty on all counts.
The jury delivered the verdict Tuesday evening before the Judge Tamela Adkins delivered their sentences.
Bradley Coleman's family gave emotional victim impact statements, begging the judge to give the trio maximum sentences.
All three defendants were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - A trio of alleged gang members known for stealing cars has been found guilty on all counts in the 2022 murder of Bradley Coleman. Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Tamela Adkins delivered their sentences Tuesday evening.
Coleman's family members begged the judge to deliver the maximum sentence for each defendant.
The backstory
Bradley Coleman was a 29-year-old father visiting his parents in Georgia from New Orleans. Attorneys say he was in town to allow his daughter to spend time with her grandparents.
On Sunday, July 10, 2022, just after noon, he pulled up to the QuikTrip at the intersection of Peachtree Parkway and Peachtree Corner Circle to use the air pump. That is when a black passenger vehicle pulled up next to him. The people inside tried to steal his car, but ended up shooting and killing him.
During the retrial, prosecutors argued Josiah Hughley was the shooter, David Booker was his armed support, and Miles Collins was the getaway driver.
What we know
Bradley Lamar Coleman grew up in Georgia. He graduated as a scholar-athlete from Norcross High School.
According to a GoFundMe that was created for his family in 2022, during high school, Coleman "won Mr. Norcross 2011, won Norcross High School State Basketball Championship, played football in Louisiana, and came back to Georgia to coach high school football."
He earned a full-ride scholarship to Southern University and graduated with two degrees.
Coleman went on to become a beloved teacher and coach who worked at Mountain View High School and Peachtree Ridge before moving to Louisiana. He was living in New Orleans when he made the summer trip to visit family in Gwinnett County.
His mother described him as a "gentle giant with a heart of gold."
He left behind a young daughter.
What they're saying
Coleman's family was allowed to present victim impact statements to tell the court how the murder of their loved one changed their lives forever. First up was an impassioned statement from Jeffery Michael Coleman, his brother.
"I just want y'all to know Bradley Coleman, he was somebody and he still is somebody," Jeffery said before Judge Adkins stopped him and asked him not to address the defendants directly. "Y'all took my brother – my only brother. And it's only the legacy that my brother left that's stopping me from putting hands and feet on all three of y'all. I swear to God. I hate y'all."
"It has been two years, six months, 18 days, four-and-a-half hours since they took our beloved Bradley. I still remember the day it happened, like it happened today, and parts of it still haunt me at this moment," Vanessa Harris, Coleman's aunt said. "Their heinous crimes have completely impacted and changed our lives forever. I cannot even begin to describe the feelings of disgust I have for each of them because they were not man enough to go out there and get a job and buy the car that they want. They hunted my nephew down like a wounded animal and shot him dead for a car. For a car!"
"I have no pity for either one of them. May they live the rest of their miserable lives behind bars, never to walk the grounds again," she continued. "My sister lost her son. My brother-in-law lost his son. My nephew lost his brother. My beautiful niece lost her father. And they get to just sit here? No! They need to go to prison for the rest of their lives. No pity. Now, send them away to their forever homes: prison."
Jeffery and Venetia Coleman approached the judge together. Between tears, Coleman's mother spoke for the two of them.
She spent more than half of her statement telling Judge Adkins all about the positive things her son was able to accomplish in his short time living and the beautiful relationship he had with his young daughter.
"They took a father away from a daughter – five-year-old daughter. They took a son, your honor, from their parents. They took a teacher and a coach from his students and student-athletes. And they took a natural-born leader from this world. And now today, your honor, is the day of reckoning. That which they have sown, now shall they reap," she said, paraphrasing the Bible.
Toward the end, she "respectfully asked" the judge to send his killers away for the rest of their lives.
By the numbers
David Booker: Life without the possibility of parole
Miles Collins: Life without the possibility of parole
Josiah Hughley: Life without the possibility of parole
What they're saying
During sentencing, there was a huge blow-up in court.
Miles Collins was being led out of the courtroom after learning he had just been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. At the door, he looked over his shoulder and told Coleman's family "I hope y'all are happy."
Coleman's brother leapt out of his seat with hurt and anger. A court officer had to restrain him while Judge Adkins calmly reminded the family to think about Coleman's legacy because "he is never coming back. Nothing that happens in this courtroom is going to bring Bradley Coleman back."
FOX 5 Atlanta reporter Christopher King spoke to Coleman's mother after court was adjourned. She said she was pleased with the judge's sentencing and felt justice had finally been served.
What we know
Felony murder - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Aggravated Assault - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Felony murder - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Hijacking a motor vehicle - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Felony murder - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Aggravated Assault - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Felony murder - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Hijacking a motor vehicle - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Felony murder - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Aggravated Assault - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Felony murder - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Hijacking a motor vehicle - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act - Guilty
One by one, each juror was asked whether they reached their verdict "freely and voluntarily." They all answered "yes."
They were excused from the courtroom while the judge prepared for sentencing.
The Source
The findings of this retrial were delivered in court on Jan. 28, 2025.
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