A DeKalb County jury has convicted a Riverdale man, Brian Garfield Fort, age 21, of felony murder and additional charges in the shooting death of another man during a birthday party confrontation last year. The announcement came from the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, which detailed on Thursday the guilty verdict encompassing charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the March 12, 2023 incident that resulted in the death of 20-year-old Joshua Quaintance.
Responding to the scene after reports of gunfire, DeKalb County Police arrived at a residence used for short-term rentals in the 2400 block of Hillside Avenue in unincorporated Decatur. Inside, empty alcohol bottles and money, alongside a birthday cake inscribed with "BIN," were found by officers. No crime scene was identified in the home initially, nor were victims or suspects present when the police first arrived, according to a statement by the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office.
After being directed to a local hospital, authorities learned of Quaintance's death shortly after 1 a.m., when he was brought in by individuals who had attended the same party. As the investigation unfolded, a surveillance camera recording revealed a verbal assault turned physical outside the rental house. Quaintance's sister described how a woman from inside the house hit her brother following an offhand comment he made, which was subsequently followed by men with guns, including Fort, threatening Quaintance after she re-entered the home.
Fort, who was identified on social media as "Bin," faced trial accused of following Quaintance down the street and shooting him multiple times. While Fort admitted to owning the birthday party and bringing a gun outside during the heated moment, he claimed in a statement to have fired on Quaintance because he believed he was pulling a gun of his own, a claim contradicted by the lack of an armed Quaintance. "Bin" was seen over the body of Quaintance before he retreated and Quaintance was taken to the hospital, recounted by the victim's sister to the investigators.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Jasmine Atakora, accompanied by Assistant District Attorney Eliazette Johnson, led the prosecution. Judge Brian K. Ross sentenced Fort to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus an additional five years immediately following the verdict. The case was a collaborative effort involving DA Investigator Tiffany Edwards, Supervising Victim Advocate Ikwo Nyong, and Detective Wright of the DeKalb County Police Department.
