An Atlanta man has been arrested in connection with the 2024 shooting death of a 24-year-old found near a student apartment complex in West Midtown. Police on Tuesday took 24-year-old Nahjel Williams into custody and charged him with murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The shooting happened on Aug. 1, 2024, outside the WestMar Student Lofts on West Marietta Street, where officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound.
Arrest and charges
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Williams was arrested Tuesday and formally booked on charges of murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The outlet reports investigators moved to arrest a suspect more than a year after the Aug. 1 shooting. Officials have not released a suspected motive or outlined specific evidence in the case.
Case timeline and the complex's history
Atlanta police first responded to the WestMar complex on the morning of Aug. 1, 2024, where they found a 24-year-old man who died at the scene, according to WSB-TV. The station and other local outlets have reported on additional shootings tied to WestMar Student Lofts in recent years, fueling long-running worries from neighbors and students about recurring violence along the Georgia Tech corridor.
Victim and earlier reporting
The victim was identified in 2024 coverage by The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution as 24-year-old Donato Bradford II, who was found on the West Marietta Street block outside the complex. Property managers told the paper they were cooperating with law enforcement and described the shooting as a tragic, isolated incident, while some neighbors pointed to a string of prior shootings that has left many on edge.
What the charges mean
Under Georgia law, a murder conviction can carry life in prison along with other severe penalties, and a separate conviction for possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony brings its own consecutive sentence. The state’s homicide and weapons statutes outline the penalties and sentencing framework prosecutors can pursue if they secure a conviction. See O.C.G.A. § 16‑5‑1 and O.C.G.A. § 16‑11‑106 for the statutory language and potential penalties.
Local reporting indicates prosecutors reviewed the case before filing charges, and authorities have not yet announced a court date or said whether Williams will remain in custody ahead of his initial appearance, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Media coverage states the arrest followed renewed investigative activity in the case, and the Atlanta Police Department homicide unit is asking anyone with information to contact investigators, per WSB-TV. Officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
