Police issue warrant for 19-year-old suspect charged with murder of eight-year-old Secoriea Turner on July 4 outside Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was killed by a cop
A teenage suspect has been identified in the devastating fatal shooting of eight-year-old Secoriea Turner and has been charged with felony murder and aggravated assault, police say.
A warrant was issued Tuesday for Julian Conley, 19, and he turned himself into police around 4.30pm local time Wednesday. His lawyer insists he did not open fire in the shooting, though he was armed.
'He was out there peacefully protesting. He doesn't know the people who did the shooting. He just witnessed it,' attorney Jackie Patterson said according to CNN.
The death of Secoriea shook Atlanta, already reeling from the police killing of black man Rayshard Brooks, 27, who was shot in a Wendy’s parking lot on June 12.
The little girl was shot on July 4 around 9.30pm when gunmen opened fire on her mother's SUV as it tried to drive around an illegal barricade set up by protesters across the street from that same Wendy's where Brooks died, authorities say.
The announcement came as mourners attended Secoriea's funeral Wednesday at New Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.
Atlanta Police issued a warrant for Julian Conley, 19, on Tuesday in the shooting death of eight-year-old Secoriea Turner, who was killed on July 4. He turned himself in Wednesday afternoon
Conley was seen walking into police custody wearing a white T-shirt, black jeans and sandals accompanied by his lawyer
Third grader Secoriea Turner was shot on July 4 around 9.30pm when gunmen opened fire on her mother's SUV while she was trying to drive through an illegal roadblock set up by protesters across the street from that same Wendy's, authorities say
Conley was seen walking into police custody wearing a white T-shirt, black jeans and sandals accompanied by his lawyer, as per WXIA.
Conley came forward after Atlanta police circulated his photo taken from surveillance footage saying he was wanted for questioning in the child’s death. He was pictured with a large rifle strapped to his body.
On Monday the teen told the media that he was at the scene of the shooting but denied that he was the one that opened fire.
'At the end of the day, I had nothing to do with it,' Conley said to Fox5.
'It is no doubt this comes as a shock,' Patterson said. 'Why would you want to charge a man who saw a crime but did not participate in a criminal act? Police would have a better chance at winning the lottery than getting a conviction on my client.'
On Sunday Atlata police a photo of Conley, a second person of interest in her murder. He's seen with a large rifle strapped to his body and a black crossbody bag over his shoulder
In the shooting Secoriea, her mother and another male adult were in the vehicle.
Protesters had set up barricades and roadblocks where the Wendy's where Brooks was killed and armed men were repotedly blocking roads in the area and turning drivers away.
Conley said the SUV tried to come through a road block and hit a barricade and a man armed with a rifle, Patterson said, as per the Atlanta Constitution-Journal.
The man got up and opened fire at the vehicle, Patterson said his client told him.
Conley said everyone thought somebody in the SUV was shooting and other armed people opened fire at the vehicle, Patterson said.
Secoriea's family have described the eight-year-old as a star student who loved playing with her phone. She is survived by her parents and two brothers
Charmaine Turner said of her daughter: 'She was only 8 years old. She would have been on TikTok dancing on her phone, just got done eating'
The Atlanta Police Department released this short clip last week that shows a gunman carrying AR-15 near the scene where Secoriea was shot on July 4th
He said he didn’t know the name of the shooter.
Atlanta Police also released a photo and video for the first person of interest in the case last week.
It shows a man in a white T-shirt, black pants and sneakers carrying an AR-15 assault rifle in the area of University Avenue and Pryor Road.
Secoriea's parents have pleaded for the public to help find whoever was responsible for the killing. A total of $50,000 in reward money was offered for the apprehension and conviction of those responsible.
Family and friends of the beloved child gathered to pay their respects to little Secoriea in an emotional funeral.
Secoriea was laid to rest in an emotional funeral service on Wednesday. A man carries flowers into a viewing for eight-year-old above
Charmaine Turner, Secoriea's mother and her sons, pictured peering into her coffin during her home-going service on Wednesday at at New Calvary Missionary Baptist Church
Friends and family fathered for Secoriea's home-going service, many of them wearing white to celebrate her life
Charmaine Turner, second from right, is comforted by family and friends as she peers into the casket of her 8-year-old daughter, Secoriea Turner
Secoriey Williamson, father of Secoriea Turner, is comforted as he cries during the home-going service for Secoriea on Wednesday
Family and friends of Secoriea Turner present floral arrangements during her touching home-going service Wednesday
A long line of relatives and friends filed past her body as the gospel song 'I'll Fly Away' filled the church.
'If there's ever a time that we need the Lord, we need him now,' The Rev. Gregory Sutton told mourners.
At her funeral, Secoriea was described as bringing joy to everyone around her. When she began first grade, she walked into class with a unicorn backpack and 'she was cute and bright with a smile to adore,' her teacher recalled.
'She sprinkled her magic all over the class, bringing laughter and joy to all of our faces,' she said.
'Really, she made my heart smile and her life can teach us all a valuable lesson. So the lesson from Secoriea today is to be a unicorn - find your magic, use your power, speak your truth, spread your wings and share your shine.'
The Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was killed by Atlanta police last month is torn down on Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Police issue warrant for 19-year-old suspect charged with murder of eight-year-old Secoriea Turner on July 4 outside Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was killed by a cop
![Police issue warrant for 19-year-old suspect charged with murder of eight-year-old Secoriea Turner on July 4 outside Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was killed by a cop]()
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