Two Clayton County Men Arrested on Murder Warrants After 4 Month Long Investigation

Clayton County authorities arrested Shavar Dowdell and Quadayous Ridley on murder warrants this past week.

According to investigations, both men have been accused of shooting another man in College Park in August. Clayton County police found the victim dead shot multiple times in the back. Both men are facing charges of felony murder and aggravated assault.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline one of the offenses that both men are facing in today's post.

Felony Murder in Georgia

The Georgia Code defines the criminal offense of felony murder in Georgia as:

A person commits the offense of murder when, in the commission of a felony, he or she causes the death of another human being irrespective of malice. O.C.G.A. §16-5-1.

Felony murder in Georgia is essentially a law that expands on the offense of murder in Georgia. To break it down, felony murder occurs when someone commits an inherently dangerous felony and a person dies during the course of that felony.

Inherently dangerous felonies include:

• Burglary in Georgia
• Arson in Georgia
• Rape in Georgia
• Kidnapping in Georgia
• Aggravated Assault in Georgia
• Cruelty to Children in Georgia

Inherently dangerous felonies are crimes that create a foreseeable risk of death.
With felony murder, the courts do not take into consideration whether the death occurred intentionally or accidentally. No intent to kill or murder is necessary to commit felony murder.

If convicted of felony murder, then the penalty for that conviction is life in prison or the death penalty.

Practice Note

If you or a loved one has been arrested for a crime in the state of Georgia, contact our offices today. A Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney can help you with your case, and the sooner you call the sooner we can help.