Jury convicts three in killing of Markel Harper

ALBANY— Three men were found guilty last week in the killing of Markel Harper, bringing closure to a case that took nearly two years to reach trial in Dougherty County and, according to prosecutors, involved multiple shooters and efforts to conceal evidence after the crime.

Harper, 29, and a passenger were shot on Radium Springs Road on March 6, 2024, in what has been described as a targeted attack. Harper died from his injuries, while the second victim survived, forming the basis for the aggravated assault charges presented at trial.

According to District Attorney Greg Edwards, a Dougherty County jury found Jason Gaines, Malik Frazier and Janarrian Oliver guilty on multiple charges related to the shooting.

Gaines and Frazier were each convicted of malice murder and felony murder, along with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and felony tampering with evidence. The inclusion of felony tampering with evidence charges against all three defendants indicates investigators believed actions were taken following the shooting to alter, destroy or conceal evidence — a factor prosecutors often use to demonstrate consciousness of guilt.

Oliver was convicted of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and felony tampering with evidence. Although he was 16 at the time of the shooting, he was prosecuted as an adult. He was the only defendant not charged with malice murder, meaning jurors were not asked to determine intent in his case, but instead whether the killing occurred during the commission of a felony.

Because of his age, Oliver faces different sentencing limitations than his co-defendants. While felony murder carries a mandatory life sentence under Georgia law, federal constitutional rulings prohibit mandatory life without parole for juvenile offenders. As a result, he will likely face a sentence of life with the possibility of parole.

Notably, prosecutors presented the case under multiple legal theories, allowing jurors to consider both intent-based and felony-based murder charges — a common approach in multi-defendant homicide cases to ensure accountability even when individual roles may differ.

Court records also show the case initially involved additional suspects, with at least two other individuals charged in connection with the incident. Those charges were dismissed during the course of the trial, though no further details were immediately released.

The office of the District Attorney did not respond to a request for comment on the case; however, court documents indicate sentencing for Gaines, Frazier and Oliver will be scheduled at a later date.