Teen Pleads Guilty to Killing High School Football Athlete

A teenager has been found guilty of murdering Brandon Smith, a high school football star from Georgia who was found dead after being missing for three days.

Smith, who attended Manchester High School in the state's Meriwether County, was last seen on December 7, 2023, and was reported missing two days later, according to WSB-TV Atlanta.

The teenager was found slain behind a home on Third Avenue in Manchester on December 10, just one day before his team was set to participate in a state championship game at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

A'darius Williams was charged with Smith's murder but maintained his innocence until pleading guilty on Tuesday (May 6) to charges of aggravated assault, criminal murder, weapons possession and malice murder.

In addition to Williams' phone having incriminating evidence, District Attorney John Cranford Jr. claimed that Williams shot the victim after an encounter just days before, when Smith took Williams' gun. It was alleged that Williams later waited outside of Smith's home, where he chased and fatally shot the victim.

Murder charges have also been announced against a second suspect, Qua’vion Jakwon Cooper, who was Smith's teammate and allegedly assisted Williams after an argument with Smith. Cooper, who played in the championship game, which was dedicated in memory of Smith, has been booked in Meriweather County Jail.

Williams was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 30 years.