(Marietta, GA – April 26, 2024) Cobb County Flynn D. Broady, Jr. announces that a jury found Elijah Bailey, 20, and Miguel Romo, 21, guilty for their involvement in a 48-hour crime spree that left a father dead inside his home. Elijah Bailey and Miguel Romo were found guilty of murder, home invasion, attempted armed robbery, armed robbery, three counts of aggravated assault, hijacking a motor vehicle, and two counts of possession of firearm charges for incidents that took place in the early morning hours of January 14, 2020. Bailey was found guilty of an additional two counts of armed robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, and possession of firearm charge for an incident that occurred 48 hours prior. 

Just before midnight on Jan 11, 2020, Elijah Bailey, Damion Shropshire, and Samuel Mallard drove to the back of Hurt Road Park on a quest to find strangers to rob at gunpoint. Upon seeing a young couple in a vehicle, Bailey, Shropshire, and Mallard jumped out of their car with masks and guns, pulled the two out of the vehicle, pressed guns to their heads, and demanded all of their property. Among the stolen items included a Colt M1911. 

Exactly 48 hours later, Bailey, Shropshire, Mallard, and Romo went back to Hurt Road Park looking for more guns and money, this time finding a new father outside his car watching the National Championship game on his phone. The men approached him under the guise of wanting a cigarette but quickly drew their weapons and demanded his property. As the man begged for his life pleading that he had a baby, Bailey and Romo got into his vehicle and fled while Mallard took his cell phone. The man was left in the dark parking lot with nothing but the clothes on his back. He ran home in fear that the men, who now had his wallet and address, would harm his family. 

Still unsatisfied, the men went to the Alta Mill apartment complex where they attempted to rob Daquan Murphy, 22, at gunpoint at his door. When Murphy realized what was going on, he tried to slam his door to protect his girlfriend, 23, and his 18-month-old daughter, both of whom were asleep in the back bedroom, but Shropshire fired a single shot through the door, penetrating Murphy’s back and perforating his major organs. Murphy’s girlfriend and baby woke up to the gunshot and were shocked to find five masked men inside the residence demanding property. Guns were pointed at Murphy’s girlfriend and young daughter, who were screaming and crying in fear for their lives. Not finding anything of value, the men fled leaving Murphy to bleed out inside his home. 

Cobb County Police initiated an investigation that immediately led to Bailey, who was arrested on Jan 15, 2020. The following day Shropshire, who was on an ankle monitor for armed robbery at the time, and Mallard were identified. During Mallard’s attempted arrest, he pulled a gun on officers and was shot and killed. Shropshire was arrested without incident. Romo was identified and arrested on Jan 24, 2020. At the time of his arrest, he was found with four guns, including the stolen Colt M1911 and the murder weapon. 

Shropshire accepted responsibility and entered a plea in March of 2023. He was sentenced to life in prison. 

During Bailey and Romo’s trial, the jury was presented with overwhelming evidence, to include merciless text messages where Bailey admitted this wasn’t his first-time victimizing strangers at gunpoint but said this time was “sloppy” and Romo said Murphy “shouldn’t have closed the door.” Following Bailey and Romo’s trial, they were sentenced to life plus 130 years to serve in confinement and life plus 90 years to serve in confinement, respectively. “Only a monster can point a gun at an 18-month-old baby,” said Judge Julie Adams Jacobs during sentencing. 

“Cobb County will not tolerate ruthless gun violence. What these young men treated as a game forever changed the lives of five citizens and ended the life of a young father. These sentences ensure that no other member of our community will be terrorized by these men.” said District Attorney Flynn D. Broady, Jr.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Green tried the case along with Clay Thompson. Lee Fudger and Michael Edmunds represented the defendants.