Athens murder case ends with plea bargain

Ketorian Cooper

By Joe Johnson

An Athens man recently was sentenced to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to killing a teenager two years ago at an apartment complex north of downtown.

David Devon Richard, 24, had faced trial on a murder charge for fatally shooting 19-year-old Ketorian Cooper, but in a deal with prosecutors on Dec. 4 he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in return for a sentence of 20 years in prison and five years on probation.

David Devon Richard

A codefendant, 16-year-old Quatravis Hull pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in May and was sentenced as a youthful offender to five years in confinement and 15 years of probation.

The Georgia Youthful Offender Act allows for offenders to be assigned by the Department of Corrections to facilities appropriate to their age group with an aim at rehabilitation and skills training.

Hull was 15 years old when Cooper was killed.

Quatravis Hull

In granting Hull youthful offender status, Superior Court Judge Lisa Lott noted in the sentencing document that the he did not have a prior criminal record, and that there had been "a lack of evidence of collusion between the co-defendants."

A condition of Hull's probation is that he cannot associate with gang members.

According to police and court records, the deadly shooting happened on the afternoon of Sept. 23, 2021 in the breezeway of the 110 building at Bethel Midtown Village.

Investigators said they determined that bad blood that existed between Cooper and the defendants had provided motivation for the slaying.