
A deadly drug deal gone awry has landed Steven Tran, a 23-year-old man from Cobb County, behind bars for life. As WSB-TV reported that Tran was convicted of murdering two men, An Ha and Julian Talbo, during a botched marijuana sale in unincorporated Lawrenceville. The fatal encounter took place at a residence on Racquet Club Circle on April 16, 2020.
The violence unfolded when Tran, instead of buying two pounds of marijuana, decided to rob and subsequently shoot the two sellers. Ha, 23, and Talbo, 20, were both killed after Tran fired a total of 12 shots. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, investigators later found physical evidence at Tran's Kennesaw home that linked him to the murders, leading to his confession of the shootings.
In a trial that culminated on Feb. 9, Tran faced a series of charges that included two counts of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was found guilty on all charges and was dealt two consecutive life sentences in prison, with an additional five years tacked on, without the possibility of parole.
Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson was reported by WSB-TV as saying, "We are pleased to bring justice to the two families of these victims who lost their lives during a senseless killing." Tran's conviction and sentencing close a chapter on a case that brings little solace to the families of Ha, and, Talbo, apart from the assurance that their killer will not walk free.
The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorney Anthony Volkodav, presented exhaustive evidence and testimony throughout the trial to secure Tran's conviction. The verdict, as the district attorney's office mentioned, delivers a measure of justice to the bereaved families, ensuring that the perpetrator is held accountable for the irreversible harm inflicted in what started as a routine drug transaction.