By Joe Johnson
A man who shot two people in downtown Athens last year has begun serving his prison sentence after being convicted in Superior Court.
Ismael Tapia-Marquez, 25, pleaded guilty last month to two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced to 15 years, with the first seven to be served in confinement.
His brother, 22-year-old Israel Tapia-Marquez, pleaded guilty to battery and making false statements and was sentenced to 36 months of probation.
According to police and court records, the Tapia brothers involved themselves in a large brawl early the morning of Oct. 29, 2023 outside of Tropical Bar on West Hancock Avenue during which two people suffered gunshot wounds to their torsos.
The victims were identified as a 31-year-old Athens man, and an 18-year-old from Elberton.
Investigators say the incident initially began as a fight during an argument concerning a female, a dispute in which neither of the Tapia-Marquez brothers had been initially involved.
They identified Ismael as the shooter by reviewing surveillance video footage from area businesses.
While not involved in the fracas, he walked up to the Athens man, who was fighting, and at point-blank range shot him twice in his side.
Israel punched the man multiple times, inflicting bruises and abrasions.
Ismael shot the Elberton teen once in the torso as the victim was on the ground, being kicked by several other males, and Israel grabbed him by the hair, threw him to the ground and puched his face multiple times.
Ismael began serving his sentence on August 27 at Montgomery State Prison.
He has a maximum possible release date of November 1, 2030.
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