DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — Three of the four people charged in the killing of a teenager at a party spoke to Channel 2 Action News reporter Mark Winne from jail on Tuesday.Quantez Devonta Mallory, Horace Damon Coleman, Emmanuel Benjamin Boykins and Tracen Lamar Franklin are accused of stomping, punching and kicking Bobby Tillman at a party early Sunday, a beating Tillman’s mother called unprovoked.Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller said the Sheriff’s Office is looking at the possibility of other suspects.One of the men in custody told Winne that a brawl involving 20 girls took place just before Tillman was jumped.
Winne spoke with Coleman, Boykins and Franklin on Tuesday. Mallory declined to be interviewed. All four men proclaimed their innocence.“No, I did not hit Bobby Tillman,” said Franklin.Winne asked Coleman if he made one mistake. “Yes, going to that party. Not listening to my mom,” said Coleman.Boykins spoke about his siblings.“It’s bigger than me, you know what I’m saying? I got younger brothers and younger siblings and I wouldn’t want anybody to hurt them just for looking at them,” said Boykins.Winne asked Boykins if he was a killer. “No, sir,” he said.Winne asked Franklin if he helped kill Tillman.
“No sir, not at all,” said Franklin.Coleman also said he was innocent. “I’m saying I’m innocent, yes,” said Coleman.All three men said they thought Tillman was an innocent victim.
“He was very innocent, standing to the side, minding his own business,” said Franklin.“I don’t even think he was the type of guy who would ever try to just come at somebody or start something,” said Coleman.And Boykins said he knew first-hand that Tillman was innocent.“Bobby looked at me and I was like, ‘What are you looking at?’” said Boykins. “A friend of mine came and he said, ‘Well, we’ve got to pound him.’ And I said, ‘Nah, I don’t know him, he didn’t talk about anything.’ (Then the friend) ran across the street or whatever and punched (Tillman) and he fell on top of the car, so while I was trying to pull my friend off of him, more people came and jumped in. I don’t’ know who all those people are.”Winne asked if Boykins knew why the others jumped on Tillman.“No, I really don’t,” said Boykins.Mallory said he was innocent, but he did not want to be interviewed.“I send my condolences to Bobby’s family,” said Coleman.
Boykins also sent condolences to the Tillman family.Miller said investigators have statements that contradict some of what the suspects told Winne during the interviews.Winne said, interestingly, Boykins singled out Coleman and said Coleman was innocent.Douglas County Coroner Randy Daniel said the autopsy was completed. Daniel said he’d only seen injuries like Tillman’s in car accidents. He said Tillman’s chest was crushed and he died when a broken bone cut his heart.
