Sean Anthony Swanson has been sentenced to life in prison following convictions for murder and the sale of marijuana.
Swanson, 24, shot and killed 20-year-old Noel Reed during a drug deal in August 2016. Swanson had agreed to serve as “protection” for co-defendant Tia Coleman, who had agreed to sell Reed one pound of marijuana for $1,500, according to a release from the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office.
When Coleman and Swanson met up with Reed, he only had $600, the release said. Reed said he would meet them at an apartment complex later to give them the rest of the money.
Coleman and Swanson met Reed at the complex and Coleman handed over the marijuana, she testified in court. Reed took the drugs, put them in his backpack and pulled out a gun, the release said. Reed pointed the gun at Swanson, and Swanson picked up his gun and shot Reed twice, according to the DA’s office. Swanson claimed self defense but was “legally exempt from using otherwise justified force” because the shooting happened while a felony — sale of marijuana — was being committed, according to the District Attorney’s office.
Swanson and Coleman tried to flee the apartment complex, but got lost and couldn’t get out. They returned to Reed’s dead body and took the bag of marijuana, covered in Reed’s blood, the release said.
Swanson was convicted Wednesday after a daylong trial and a day and a half of jury deliberation.
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