Clayton County teen convicted of shooting, killing classmate

Cedric Clark, a student at Charles Drew High School in Clayton County, played football, baseball and basketball, his family said.

Cedric Clark, a student at Charles Drew High School in Clayton County, played football, baseball and basketball, his family said.

A Clayton County teenager was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for shooting and killing a classmate in 2016.

The sentence came after a jury last Thursday convicted 18-year-old Stanley Dixon of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Cedric Clark.

Both attended Charles Drew High School in Riverdale.

According to prosecutors, the shooting happened Nov. 1, just a few hours after Dixon and one of Clark’s friends, Warren Boyd, got in a fight at school. They had agreed to meet up that night to finish the fight, Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Lawson’s office said in a statement.

Teletha Walker (center) cried at the scene after learning of her son's death. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

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Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

While Clark and Boyd were in Dixon’s neighborhood, Dixon went outside armed with a 9 mm handgun, walked down the street and opened fire on the two teens.

Clark was struck in the left shoulder; the bullet traveled through his left lung and into his thoracic aorta, the DA’s office said.

Clark started running, splitting up from Boyd while Dixon, who was 16 at the time, ran after them, according to prosecutors.

Boyd eventually went to Clark’s house, thinking his friend ran there. But Clark never made it home. His family called police and searched for hours, but he was not found until a resident on Eagles Feather Lane reported the following morning that there was a body in her backyard.

Clark had bled to death, as he sought refuge and ran from a gunman.

Boyd eventually opened up to police about the shooting, leading to Dixon’s arrest.

Dixon's cousin, Demarco Reid, was also arrested after he allegedly admitted to watching the incident from his window and handling the gun before and after the shooting. Reid's case is still pending, Senior Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Hawkins told AJC.com.

Clark was remembered as someone who gave good advice and was especially close with his family.

“He was the one that talked sense into people,” Anthony Lewis, Cedric’s brother, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution shortly after the shooting. “And he was only 17. When he said he was going to do something for you, he did it.”

He had hoped to play baseball in college, or join the Air Force.

Clark’s family did not testify at sentencing but expressed their gratitude.

“Justice was served,” Hawkins said. “We were happy to bring closure to the family.”

Anthony Lewis said his younger brother Cedric Clark was great at giving advice. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

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