RIVERDALE MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER IN BIRTHDAY PARTY CONFRONTATION

Friday, August 2, 2024

State v. Brian Garfield Fort

Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the case against a Riverdale man accused of shooting and killing a man after a confrontation at a birthday party.

On Thursday, jurors found Brian Garfield Fort, 21, guilty on charges of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony stemming from the murder of Joshua Quaintance, 20, on March 12, 2023.

According to the investigation, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded to reports of shots fired at a home in the 2400 block of Hillside Avenue in unincorporated Decatur. When they arrived, officers spoke to the owner of the home, who said he uses the property as a short-term rental and had come to the location after a neighbor called him to notify him about the gunshots.

Police searched the house and did not find a crime scene, nor anyone inside. They did find several bottles of alcohol, a large number of dollar bills on the kitchen counter, and a birthday cake with the letters "BIN" written on it.

An officer then went to a nearby hospital after being alerted that witnesses were there after bringing Quaintance to the emergency room. Hospital staff told the officer Quaintance was pronounced dead shortly after 1 a.m.

Police spoke to Quaintance's sister who explained she, her brother and two of her friends had gone to a birthday party at the rental house. She said when they got to the house, she was greeted by the man who invited her to the party, saw the man identified as "Bin," and was told the party was over and that they were leaving to go to a club.

Quaintance's sister said as they left the house, her brother was talking to someone over the phone and called the people at the house "green," which means "inexperienced" or "naïve." A woman inside the house apparently heard the comment, came outside and began to hit Quaintance in the driveway. She then ran back inside and moments later, several males came out with guns and threatened Quaintance. Video and audio of the confrontation were recorded by a surveillance camera at the house.

Quaintance's sister said her brother walked away and tried to get in the car to leave, but "Bin" followed him down the street and moments later, several shots rang out. Quaintance's sister reported seeing "Bin" standing over her brother as he lay in the street. "Bin" slowly backed away and his sister and her friends rushed Quaintance to the hospital.

Using social media accounts, investigators were able to identify "Bin" as Defendant Fort. In a statement to police, Defendant Fort admitted that it was his birthday party and that a fight broke out as they were getting ready to leave. He said he came outside with a gun after the fight started. Defendant Fort claimed Quaintance pulled a gun from his pants and that was why he opened fire, but Quaintance was not armed.

Immediately following the guilty verdicts, Judge Brian K. Ross, who presided over the trial sitting by designation for the DeKalb County Superior Court, sentenced Defendant Fort to Life Without the Possibility of Parole, plus five years.

The case, assigned to the Homicide and Gangs Unit, was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jasmine Atakora with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Eliazette Johnson, District Attorney Investigator Tiffany Edwards and Supervising Victim Advocate Ikwo Nyong. DeKalb County Police Department Det. Wright led the initial investigation.