An 18-year-old man has been indicted on multiple charges, including malice murder and felony murder, following a fatal shooting at an after-prom party in Powder Springs, Cobb County. The suspect, Carlos Diaz, was accused of the March 10 killing that left a 17-year-old former Campbell High School student dead. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the incident unfolded in a parking lot where the altercation led to Diaz allegedly firing twice at Ashton Hornsby, resulting in the teenager's death from a chest wound.
The indictment comes after weeks of investigations into what sparked the grim scenario. An arrest warrant claims that Diaz felt threatened by Hornsby, believing a confrontation was imminent due to a prior incident. In the warrant, Diaz purportedly admitted to not seeing a weapon on Hornsby but stated that he knew him to carry guns. Diaz said he responded by shooting the 17-year-old when Hornsby began to follow him and lifted his shirt, despite Diaz not seeing a weapon. As the community recovers from the violence, Cobb County prosecutors are getting ready for Diaz’s trial, bringing a somber mood to the local prom season.
In a somber communication with parents, Dr. Vanessa Watkins, principal of Campbell High School, spoke to the toll the tragic event has taken on the school's populace. "With a heavy heart, I find myself typing the most devastating words for a principal to type or a parent to read," Watkins wrote, as reported by WSB-TV, further detailing that counseling services would be provided to support the students in the wake of the incident that, while unconnected to school activities, "is affecting our students."
